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Parents wait for justice as Latunski deemed unfit for trial

Posted at 5:21 PM, Feb 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-27 21:12:52-05

LANSING, Mich. — A judge on Thursday deemed a Michigan man unfit for trial in the killing and mutilation of someone he met through the dating app Grindr.

Mark Latunski, 50, was charged in December with murder and other crimes in the killing of Kevin Bacon, 25, who lived in Swartz Creek, near Flint.

His parents Pamela and Karl Bacon say it has been an extremely long two months since his death.

"We've all had our issues, we're trying to work through them all and hopefully, hopefully we'll get through it. Probably never though," said Karl Bacon.

Now, they will have to wait even longer for a sense of justice.

66th District Court Judge Ward Clarkson ordered Latunski to be transferred to a psychiatric facility so doctors there can work with him to regain his competency so that he can understand his case.

Latunski's Public Defender Doug Corwin Jr. says what that process looks like and how long it takes is to be determined. The center hopes it will happen within 15 months.

"There will be medication, there will also be psychiatric assessment, counseling. It's not just locking him up and throwing medicine at him. It's treatment. Sometimes it takes a little bit to find the right combination of medication that will help," said Corwin.

Clarkson made his decision based on a 33-page report from the state’s Center for Forensic Psychiatry who determined from a set of tests, Latunski was "not presently competent.”

Bacon tells Fox 47, he's not so sure.

"I have my doubts. He played this card in the past and he got off on certain charges in the past and I think he tried to do the same thing again," said Bacon.

He says he believes there's enough evidence and is hopeful Latunski will see a trial.

"If he thought he was gonna get free by doing the insanity thing, he was wrong. He's going to remain in custody until he's found competent. When he's found competent, he will be brought back up here and face trial," said Bacon.

He says he will wait however long it takes until the next time Latunski is brought before a judge.

Bacon's parents say they will push for a wrongful death lawsuit. They're working on a scholarship fund and say Kevin will be posthumously honored with a degree from the University of Michigan- Flint in April.

Bacon’s body was found Dec. 28 hanging from the ceiling of Latunski’s home in Bennington Township, 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Police said Latunski admitted to killing Bacon and eating parts of his body.

Latunski’s brick home was auctioned off Wednesday during a sheriff’s sale with a high bid of $101,733 — about $21,000 over the minimum asking price.

The name of the highest bidder was not released.

Christie Duffield, office manager for the Shiawassee County sheriff’s office, said the sale means the house officially was foreclosed on.

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