INDIANAPOLIS -- A Brownsburg man has been charged with murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the discovery of a body buried beneath concrete inside a warehouse on Wednesday.
A tip led police investigators to the grave just after 7:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of W. 29th Street. The victim has been identified as Michael Marks, 41.
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Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Jason Hancock, 48, on a preliminary murder charge Thursday for his alleged involvement in Marks' death. On Monday, prosecutors filed charges of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and abuse of a corpse against Hancock.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, a witness who used to stay at W. 29th Street with Michael Marks came to the IMPD homicide office on March 19.
The witness said that around Feb. 21, Hancock, his son Cody, and Marks went to W. 29th Street so they could talk.
The witness went with them but stayed in the car. He says he heard a single gunshot.
Hancock and Cody told the witness to come inside. That's when he says he saw Marks shot dead on the warehouse floor.
The witness says he was threatened if he told anyone about the shooting.
Over the next three days, the witness says he was forced to help Hancock try to get rid of Marks' body.
The body was placed in a shallow grave and Marks' clothes were put in the warehouse furnace.
Hancock then used a tool to knock out Marks' teeth. According to the witness, Hancock said he was going to make a necklace of them.
The affidavit states that the witness and Hancock made two attempts to use lye to dispose of the body, but that did not work.
Then they bought concrete to cover Marks' body. Plywood and pallets were placed over the concrete.
The witness identified Hancock in a photo line up, according to the probable cause affidavit.
He also showed detectives on a map where to find the warehouse.
A search warrant was executed on March 20 and a human body was found during an excavation dig.
Marks' mother later identified him by his tattoos.
According to the Marion County Coroner's office, the death is a homicide and the cause of death is close contact penetrating gunshot wound to the head.
On March 23, Hancock contacted IMPD because he wanted to come in and tell his side of the story.
The same day, his son Cody was located during a traffic stop.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Cody admitted to shooting Marks in the foot on Feb. 18 and he also admitted to being present when his father shot Marks.
Hancock's criminal background includes convictions for drug possession, dealing meth, and resisting law enforcement.
Marks was reported missing on Feb. 25 from 25 S. Lynhurst Drive. He was last seen driving a newer, dark blue BMW with paper plates. Marks' mother said he used to work for Jason Hancock.
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