In December of 2019, a 25-year-old male named Kevin Bacon, a hairstylist and student, connected with a man on a dating app. On Christmas Eve, he drove to meet this man at his home in Bennington Township, Michigan. When he didn't show up for a family breakfast on Christmas morning, his family reported him missing. The search for Kevin began, with his car being found in a Family Dollar parking lot, containing his phone and wallet.
His family and friends grew increasingly worried, their fears escalating as the days passed. The investigation into his disappearance led police to the home of Mark Latunski, the 50-year-old man Kevin had gone to meet. When officers conducted a welfare check at the residence on December 28th, they made a gruesome discovery. Kevin's naked body was found hanging upside down from the rafters in the ceiling.
Latunski was immediately taken into custody and, during questioning, confessed to the horrific details of the murder. He admitted to stabbing Kevin in the back and then slitting his throat. After the murder, he tied a rope around Kevin's ankles and hoisted him up to the ceiling. In a further act of depravity, Latunski confessed to removing parts of Kevin's body and consuming them.
Latunski was charged with open murder and mutilation of a human body. Initially, there were questions about his competency to stand trial, and he underwent mental health treatment. However, he was ultimately found competent. In September 2022, just before his trial was set to begin, Mark Latunski pleaded guilty to the charges. A judge later determined the crime was premeditated, and he was found guilty of first-degree murder. Latunski was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
