Third defendant convicted in Lansing murder case, dismemberment of young victim

Marcus Hayes, 37, was convicted of first‑degree premeditated murder and mutilation of a body in a case that began on May 12, 2024, when he and his brother Leonard fought with 25‑year‑old Zaccari Taylor at a Lansing home.

Lansing Police Department Detective Matt Salman testified that surveillance footage captured the altercation, showing Hayes watching as his brother strangled Taylor, then continuing the strangulation before dragging the victim away. The footage also showed both Hayes brothers carrying a body wrapped in a sheet out of the home, and the trio discussed dismembering the body instead of burning it.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour on September 10 before finding Hayes guilty, and Leonard was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year. Jones’ charges were reduced to accessory after the fact, and all three defendants had lengthy criminal histories at the time of Taylor’s death.

Read the full story at truecrimenews.com.