2 Charged in Markham Murder

Two men were charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of a man whose body was found in April in an unincorporated area in Thornton Township in the south suburbs, Cook County sheriff's officials said.

Brandon Johnson of Harvey and Lester Larkin of Riverdale were charged in the shooting death of Eddie Bell, of Markham, officials said.

Johnson, 27, and Larkin, 25, were ordered held without bail for the death of Bell, who was found dead on April 16 after sheriff's police were called to the 13800 block of South Thornton Road near Blue Island and Calumet Park and his body was found with multiple gunshot wounds.

Bell had been the subject of a missing person investigation conducted by the Harvey Police Department.

On March 30, Harvey police began investigating a crime scene at Johnson's home in the 14000 block of South Hoyne Avenue, where Bell was last seen and where gunfire had been reported.

When Harvey police executed a search warrant at the location, they found blood, weapons and cleaning materials, but no body.

Harvey police and Cook County Sheriff's Police officers worked together to identify Johnson and Larkin as the suspects in Bell's homicide, police said.

First degree murder charges were approved for both men on May 19.

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