In a quiet home in Bellefontaine Neighbors, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, a grim discovery was made on December 2, 2018. Jerry Cannon, a 40-year-old male, was found lifeless, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. Alongside him was his girlfriend, 33-year-old Iesha Emery, who had met the same violent end. The couple's lives were cut short in what would unfold as a chilling family tragedy.
Concern arose when Emery failed to appear for work, prompting a family member to check on her at
the residence on Oran Drive. It was there, around 8:30 a.m., that the devastating scene was discovered, and law enforcement was called to the scene. The Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department soon requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis to unravel the circumstances surrounding the double homicide.
Investigators quickly zeroed in on a primary suspect: Jerry Cannon's own son, 18-year-old Tyjuan Cannon-Scarelli. He had been visiting his father from Chicago. Security footage from the home proved to be a critical piece of evidence. The video showed Cannon-Scarelli entering the house with his father and Emery on November 25, a week before their bodies were found. Within half an hour, he was seen leaving the home alone, carrying two duffel bags and what appeared to be a gun. In the days that followed, until the discovery of the victims, no one else was seen entering or leaving the residence.
The investigation further revealed that a 9mm pistol and the victims' Buick Lucerne were missing from the home. The stolen vehicle was later located in the Chicago area. Social media posts from the suspect, showing him with what was believed to be the stolen firearm, added to the mounting evidence against him.
Authorities issued a warrant for Tyjuan Cannon-Scarelli's arrest, and he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and stealing a motor vehicle. After his apprehension, he eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action. For his crimes, he was sentenced to 30 years for each murder count and three years for each armed criminal action charge, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
