Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a Peoria man found inside an East Bluff residence on Monday.
Portia J. Stokes and Michael R. Jansen are charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death in the case.
Peoria police responded to the home of David L King, 41, in the 500 block of East Seneca Place, after a request for a welfare check and found him inside. Peoria County State's Attorney Jodi Hoos said officers found King inside a freezer "with cuts on his body."
"He had been there long enough that his body was frozen," Hoos said.
According to Hoos, Stokes, 26, was inside the home when officers entered and was taken into custody.
During a police interview, Jansen, 29, initially told officers he and Stokes killed King and moved his body into the freezer. Hoos said Jansen later changed his story, saying it was Stokes who killed King.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood on Wednesday identified King as having suffered fatal injuries that prompted a homicide investigation. In a social media post, Harwood said King was discovered “obviously deceased” from “perpetrated injuries.”
Harwood said additional information will be released following the completion of a pending autopsy.
Prosecutors have filed petitions to detain Stokes and Jansen as they await trial. That petition will be heard Friday in Peoria County Circuit Court.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at 309-673-4521.
