TROWBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- One day after a man was arrested in Allegan County, suspected of killing his half brother and then burying his body behind a home, family members tell FOX 17 the two had a troubled past.
William Schoolcraft, uncle to the stepbrothers, relived what he believes unfolded Friday at the home in the 1100 block of 26th Street in Trowbridge Township.
"That's what bothers me. I'm in there sleeping, and all the time Damon is getting killed back here and then dragged behind the house," Schoolcraft said.
37-year-old Damon Sheldon was found buried behind the Allegan County home. Police arrested Sheldon's half-brother Malcolm "Max" Dotson Friday night on open murder charges. Their uncle, William Schoolcraft, is mourning the loss of his nephew. He was barely able to finish the interview with FOX 17 Saturday afternoon.
"I don't even want to talk about it because it hurts too much," said Schoolcraft.
Schoolcraft is the first to admit the family was anything but perfect.
"They do meth. They are up late. When I go to work they are sleeping until noon or whatever," he said.
Schoolcraft says the brothers lived together, and for the most part they got along, but he said Max had some bad habits.
"He stole from me. He stole from everybody since he was a little kid. He stabbed his brother when he was fifteen years old," he said.
Schoolcraft told FOX 17 that the entire situation could've been avoided, claiming Dotson was released from jail this past Monday.
"He goes to court for breaking into a house a second time on top of everything else he's been in trouble for and the judge gives him an O-R bond, and a few days later, boom," he said.
If true, an O-R bond means Dotson was released on the basis he promised to be at this next court appearance.
Walking around the property Saturday, Schoolcraft showed FOX 17 the proximity of the boys' trailer, where Damon was supposedly killed, to the backyard of Schoolcraft's home where Damon was found buried.
Schoolcraft says no one deserves to die that way.
"For Max, the one that killed him [Damon], I want him to be locked up and weld the doors shut."
Dotson is being held in the Allegan County Jail. He's expected to be arraigned in court on Monday.
