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Missing man found buried behind home, relative of victim in custody

Posted at 7:19 PM, Apr 10, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-10 23:19:03-04
UPDATE: Just after 11:00 p.m. Friday evening, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department released the name of the victim who is being identified as 37-year-old Damon Francis Sheldon.
Man found buried behind home in 1100 block of 26th Street near M-89 in Allegan Co. Friday evening.

Man found buried behind home in 1100 block of 26th Street near M-89 in Allegan Co. Friday evening.

TROWBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Authorities in Allegan County have arrested a 25-year-old suspect after a man was found dead on a property in the 1100 block of 26th Street.

Investigators say they received a phone call from the apparent victim's mother who went to check on the victim's well being at the home around 1:30 Friday afternoon.

Authorities say she arrived to the mobile home on the property off 26th Street near M-89 to find furniture overturned, blood, and broken glasses normally worn by the victim, but her son was not there.

“She found a significant amount of blood and the fact some of the furniture had been disturbed, and the glasses of the individual that generally wears them every waking minute, not being around, obviously that showed signs of a struggle," said Capt. Mike Larsen, with the Allegan County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities later arrived to begin looking for the 37-year-old son and found a 25-year-old relative of the victim who was apparently sleeping in a home also on the same property.

That 25-year-old was taken into custody on preliminary charges of open murder after authorities located the 37-year-old victim in what was described as a recent 'dig site' toward the back of the property.

Neighbors living nearby are telling FOX17 the victim and the suspect involved are believed to be brothers.

"I'm surprised, he’s a really nice guy, he wouldn’t harm nobody," said Robert Mosely who lives nearby.

"He likes to talk a lot, seemed to get along with everybody really good... I don’t see why anyone would want to hurt him.”

Police said they will not release the suspect's name until he is arraigned in court, which will likely be Monday.

Authorities are not revealing how the victim was killed, or the motive involved.

“He (suspect) gave statements that were consistent with evidence found at the scene," Larsen said.

Neighbors told FOX 17 cops had been called to the home a few times in recent months but police on scene wouldn't confirm the number of times, only saying  there had been "recent police contact."

The suspect is currently lodged at the Allegan County Jail.