Man suspected in serial killings

LANSING, Mich. -- A prison parolee and sex offender is suspected of killing five women in the city in a little more than a month and could face charges in a sixth death from 2004, authorities said Friday.

Murder and assault charges were being pursued against Matthew Emmanuel Macon, 27, of Lansing, who was paroled from state prison June 26, said Police Chief Mark Alley.

Macon had been in prison off and on since 2001, returning twice for parole violations after serving more than a year and a half for larceny from a person, said state Corrections Department spokesman Russ Marlan.

Macon also had an extensive juvenile criminal history, including two criminal sexual conduct offenses, breaking and entering, larceny, and unlawfully driving away an automobile, Marlan said.

"He spent most of his life in and out of foster care," he said.

He was arrested Tuesday in connection with the deaths this summer of Ruth Hallman, 76; Deborah Cooke, 36; Debra Renfors, 46; Sandra Eichorn, 64; and Karen Yates, 41. He also may be charged with the 2004 death of Barbara Jean Tuttle, 45, authorities said. Tuttle and Renfors were found dead in the same house.

Police had been looking for clues and help from the public in five homicides since late July, including two this week. Authorities have declined to give many details on the crimes or investigation.

On Tuesday, a 56-year-old woman was injured in an attack in her home. Her dog charged the man, causing him to flee, authorities said. Police credited the woman with providing key details that helped focus their investigation and led to a sketch of a suspect.

Macon is not listed on the state's public sex offender registry but is on a sex offender registry used by law enforcement. It was not immediately clear how Macon violated parole in 2003 and 2006.

According to the Michigan State Police's criminal history Web site, Macon was sentenced to a year in jail in 2005 after pleading guilty to third-degree home invasion and resisting arrest.

It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.