Man sentenced for his part in 2017 murder, dismemberment

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois man who admitted his role in the 2017 murder and dismemberment of a DeSoto man was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.

Jackson County State's Attorney Mike Carr said James Michael Deese, 54, of DeSoto, was sentenced for first-degree murder in the death of Frank Stonemark. Concealment of a homicide and moving a body charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement contingent on his cooperation in the case of Carmen Stonemark, the victim's wife.

In his announcement Monday, Carr said the wife colluded with Deese to murder her husband. Deese told investigators he strangled Frank Stonemark and, with the help of Carmen Stonemark, dismembered his body and burned it.

Carr said Deese 'œagreed to call and record conversations with Carmen Stonemark which led to her arrest.'ť She was sentenced in July 2019 to 20 years in prison for solicitation of murder and concealment of a homicidal death.

In announcing Deese's sentencing, Carr said investigators never found Stonemark's body, but were able to find evidence of his death including 'œblood on sheet rock located in the van Deese admitted using to transport the body.'ť