Update: Family, friends react to grisly details in Kevin Bacon slaying

Editor’s note: This story contains graphic content.

CORUNNA, MI -- Kevin Bacon was stabbed in the back, his body hung from his ankles, his throat cut and parts of him were eaten, say police who searched the house of the man accused of killing him, possibly on Christmas Eve or early Christmas Day.

On Monday, Jan. 6, The Flint Journal-MLive obtained court transcripts from the hearing where police officers have to offer information on the case to a judge in order to obtain an arrest warrant. The transcripts reveal details about of the killing of Bacon, a Swartz Creek man.

Bacon went missing on the evening of Dec. 24 and was discovered four days later at Mark Latunski’s Bennington Township home, near Morrice in Shiawassee County. Details of Bacon’s gruesome slaying were given to the 66th District Court for his arraignment, by responding Michigan State Police officers.

Michigan State Police received a call for assistance from Clayton Township Police Department to conduct a welfare check Dec. 28 on Kevin Bacon, who was thought to have been at Latunski’s house the evening of Dec. 24.

Bacon was found dead hanging from the ceiling of Latunski’s home. Officers conducted an interview with Latunski on the morning of Dec. 28. Latunski allowed them to enter and search his home. Latunski admitted to killing Bacon by stabbing him in the back and then slitting his throat.

After, Latunski admitted to tying a rope around Bacon’s ankles and hanging him up from the rafters on the ceiling. He also admitted to using the knife to cut off Bacon’s testicles and later eating them, the police testimony says.

Long history of mental health issues

Divorce, custody and criminal records show a history of complaints about the mental health of Latunski.

Latunski was known to stop taking the medication prescribed to treat his mental health illnesses, according to records from the 66th District and 35th Circuit courts.

A motion filed Aug. 22 by former wife Emily Latunski to suspend Mark Latunski’s parenting time states he was diagnosed with major depression, paranoid schizophrenia and traits of a personality disorder in 2010 and 2012.

"(Mark Latunski) has a history of mental illness and has been hospitalized in the Owosso Mental Stress unit,” according to the Aug. 22 motion. “(Mark Latunski) has a history of going off his medication.”

Jamie Arnold, Mark Latunski’s husband of more than three years, prevously told MLive-The Flint Journal he wasn’t aware of Mark Latunski’s mental illnesses until July, when he was arrested for failing to pay child support. A July 22 court order states Mark Latunski spent four days in jail for the offense.

"To my knowledge, I couldn't force him to see a therapist or take medication," Arnold said. "Never in a million years did I think he'd be capable of doing such a horrendous crime."

Arnold said he didn’t think Mark Latunski could seriously harm or kill anyone. Arnold said he left Latunski in September and he did not live at the Morrice-area house.

“In hindsight, it’s easy to sit back and speculate but at the time you’re going through it there are emotions and feelings involved. You don’t want to think that the person you fell in love with is some crazy homicidal maniac,” Arnold said. “I pray that God is there for Kevin Bacon’s family in their time of need and that He helps us all get through this, one day at a time."

The victim’s family, however, feels Mark Latunski might try using his history of mental illness to elude justice.

Karl Bacon, Kevin Bacon’s dad, said he felt like Mark Latunski was playing the “mental health card” at the arraignment on Dec. 30. When asked if his name was “Mark Latunski” at the arraignment, Mark Latunski said that was not his name, that his name was “Edgar Thomas Hill” and that Mark Latunkski was his nephew.

“He has used the mental health card to get out of situations in the past and he’s attempting to use it again,” Karl Bacon said. “I would like to see him locked up for the rest of his life in some form or another.”Suspect in

Kevin Bacon murder case has long history of mental illness, records show

‘A colorful, vibrant being both inside and out’

Bacon was a hairstylist who specialized in vibrant coloring at Uniquely U Salon in Swartz Creek and studied psychology at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Michelle Myers, Bacon’s best friend and roommate, called him “compassionate, caring and loving.” The two met in fourth grade. Bacon’s openness and transparency always comforted Myers.

“Kevin was a colorful, vibrant being both inside and out. He did what he wanted to, when he wanted to, and let very little hold him back,” Myers said. “He was attentive and could remember all the small details – even all the ones that you forgot.”

He was known for his colorful tattoos, Myers said, which he got because they “made him love himself in his own skin.”

Bacon’s dreams ranged from being a hairdresser working runways to a clinical therapist, Myers said.

“I really could not have asked for a better friend. I was incredibly lucky to call him my friend,” Myers said.

Myers was the last person to see Bacon alive on the evening of Dec. 24. Bacon told Myers he was meeting up with a guy he’d met on Grindr. At 6:12 p.m. that night, Bacon texted Myers that he’d be out for a while and he wasn’t sure when he’d be back.

Karl Bacon called police the evening of Dec. 25 after his son missed Christmas breakfast.

Police soon found Kevin Bacon’s car at a Family Dollar in Clayton Township, inside which they found Kevin Bacon’s phone, wallet, and some clothes.

“He passed away some time (late) Christmas Eve, early Christmas morning,” Karl Bacon previously said. “The medical examiner is not sure of the exact time as of right now.”

Kevin Bacon’s body was recovered from Mark Latunski’s home on Tyrrell Road after police were led there on Dec. 28. Police didn’t divulge Kevin Bacon’s cause of death, saying that won’t be revealed until autopsy results are completed.

The last time Arnold saw Mark Latunski was Dec. 25, the day after Bacon went missing. Arnold said he had a friend over on Christmas Eve and wasn’t with Mark Latunski the night the alleged murder is believed to have taken place.

“I had some friends over and I didn’t want him to be alone on Christmas. When you love someone, you don’t just stop caring about them,” Arnold said. “He came over late in the afternoon and his behavior was normal, as normal as he can be.”

Kevin Bacon’s funeral was held on Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel at 8138 Miller Road in Swartz Creek. A candlelight vigil was held later that night.

Mark Latunski is held in jail without bond. He is to appear for a probable cause in court at 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 8.

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