MARION - A mother and son were jailed without bail in connection with the killing of a man whose decomposing body was discovered Tuesday.

Elmer Atkins Jr., 46, and his mother, Edna Atkins, 63, could have formal charges filed against them in court Wednesday, Williamson County State's Attorney Charles Garnati said.

Garnati said he expects to charge Elmer Atkins with first-degree murder in the death of Matthew Lutchen, 51.

The state's attorney declined to say what charges he might file against Atkins' mother, citing a continuing investigation by a task force of officers from the Marion Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police.

Garnati would not say what the manner of death was or where Lutchen's body was found, but yellow crime scene tape surrounded the Atkins' residence at 1100 S. Van Buren St. in Marion on Tuesday.

Neighbors said they were awakened Tuesday by predawn activity that included police officers digging in the yard at the Atkins' residence, a large mobile home on a corner lot.

Neighbor Bertha Acree said Lutchen had been living at the Atkins' residence, but had not been seen since about December.

"Matthew, I called him 'the Little Guy," was always working in the yard, keeping it clean and tended, and then one day I didn't see him anymore," she said.

"Back in February, I asked (Elmer Atkins) Junior what happened to him (Lutchen) and he said they'd gotten drunk one night and got into it, and that the Little Guy left for Tennessee," Acree said.

Garnati declined to say when the alleged murder was committed, but did say the decomposing state of Lutchen's body was "part of the problem in letting you know when the murder occurred."

An autopsy could yield time and manner of death and was being conducted in Farmington, Mo., he said.

Garnati would not say whether the death was drug-related but said, "When I file charges tomorrow (Wednesday), you will have a better clue as to the mental state of the suspects."

The Atkins are longtime residents of the southside neighborhood, and neighbors said Elmer Atkins Jr. was known for his temper.

According to court records, Atkins had several domestic battery complaints against him, one of which landed him a year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Garnati said he does not anticipate a death penalty case against the Atkins.

He praised the investigative team for making a quick arrest.

"The investigators worked tirelessly all night in order to get information to make the arrests," he said. "It happened very quickly because these guys are good."

beckymalk@gmail.com

618-927-5633