A 50-year-old cannibal pleaded guilty to killing a 25-year-old missing man and eating parts of his body.
35th Circuit Court records show Mark Latunski entered the plea Thursday, Sept. 22, for charges of open murder and disinterment and mutilation of a dead body.
Latunski’s attorney told the Lansing State Journal in a statement it was a “difficult decision to plead guilty.”
The statement added, “The law requires that attorneys must follow the objectives of clients found to be legally competent as it relates to decisions, such as pleading guilty, even if the attorneys believe that it is not in the best interests of the client. We will continue to vigorously advocate for Mr. Latunski at the degree hearing and sentencing.”
Latunski’s attorney likely wanted to use the insanity defense in court.
Latunski’s trial was scheduled to begin Oct. 18.
The victim, Kevin Bacon, was reported missing Christmas Day 2019 after he did not show up for breakfast at his parents’ home. Several of his close friends and family searched around his hometown of Swartz Creek for him.
Reports state Bacon’s roommate told investigators he had met a man on the dating app Grindr.
Police went to Latunski’s home in Shiawassee County and discovered the 25-year-old dead on Dec. 28, 2019. He was reportedly hanging upside down from the ceiling and had been cut all over his body.
Reports state Bacon had been stabbed in the back, his throat was slashed, and some of his body parts were eaten.
Latunski underwent several competency hearings while he was in custody and spent time in a mental health facility.
In January 2020, Latunski’s attorney requested a competency hearing, saying in court, “He believes he’s named someone else. He believes he’s from a royal family out of Wales, the Thomas clan. And just the nature of the crime itself, you’ve got to send him for this evaluation.”
MLive.com reports he was declared fit to stand trial in October 2020, but in March 2022, Latunski’s attorneys sought another evaluation because of his mental state at the time. In May 2022, a judge deemed him competent.
They walk among us!