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Last updated on Monday, October 20, 2014
(JACKSON CO.) - Two men, including one from Jackson County, face murder and other charges related to the discovery of a body Friday afternoon in North Vernon.
21-year-old JoVonnie Antonio Mayes of Seymour and 22-year-old Jody Michael Brooks of North Vernon were found in Harrison County in possession of a stolen truck, according to a news release from North Vernon Lt. Randall Marshall.
Smith, who was from Dupont, was found dead just before 1 p.m. Friday behind apartments on N. Fifth Street. Police say a person who lives in the area discovered his body when taking the trash out.
"It was pretty quickly determined there might have been some foul play involved," said North Vernon Police Sgt. Andrew Richmond. He says after a few hours, detectives from the North Vernon Police Department and Indiana State Police were able to develop a list of suspects.
"Just canvassing the area, talking with some area witnesses, talking with some people who had been familiar with Mr. Smith and some of his history in the past couple days and finding out who were the last several people that were seen around him," Richmond said about the investigation.
Police began searching for Brooks and Mayes. Police say the men stole a car from a nearby trailer park, drove it to Hayden, where they stole another car and were caught in Harrison County, just outside Corydon. They were arrested before midnight.
"For the type of investigation it was, it happened extremely fast," Richmond said.
He says an acquaintance of the suspects and cell phone tracking helped pinpoint their location. The Harrison County Sheriff's Office assisted in taking Brooks and Mayes into custody.
Police have not released information about a motive or how Smith was killed.
"We're not aware that there was any prior history between them. It appears that they were just acquaintances," Richmond said about a relationship between the victim and suspects.
Brooks and Mayes are being held without bond at the Jennings County Jail on charges of murder, robbery and auto theft pending initial hearings.
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