The ex-boyfriend of a Florida woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in Alabama has been deemed a flight risk and must remain in jail, a judge has ruled.
Marcus Spanevelo, 35, was extradited to Alabama last week after authorities announced he is charged with abuse of corpse in connection with the death of Cassie Carli. He was booked into the St. Clair County Jail at 6:16 p.m. Thursday.
St. Clair County District Judge Alan Furr on Tuesday ruled Spanevelo will remain in the St. Clair County Jail without bond.
The judge said Spanevelo twice previously failed to appear in court in St. Clair County on traffic violations and a warrant had been issued against him.
“While the defendant purports to have a local residence with a friend, his home address is in the State of Florida,’’ Furr wrote. “Additionally, (Spanevelo) reports that he travels for employment and is not frequently at home.”
“The court determines that (Spanevelo) is a flight risk and may not willingly return to court,’’ Fur ruled.
Spanevelo was denied his request for bond. A preliminary hearing in the corpse abuse case is set for Dec. 6.
According to Alabama law, a person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if he or she knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would “outrage ordinary family sensibilities.” The charge is a Class C felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
“First and foremost, our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Cassie Carli,’’ District Attorney Lyle Harmon said in a previous statement. “Currently, a massive investigation into Cassie Carli’s death is ongoing and involves three states and their respective state agencies. These agencies continue to work tirelessly with each other for the common goal of justice.”
Harmon’s announcement on the Alabama charges followed the dismissal of charges against Spanevelo in Florida. He had been charged with tampering with evidence, giving false information concerning a missing persons investigation and destruction of evidence in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida dismissals followed the results of the final autopsy report for Carli which yielded no definitive answers on how she died. Both the cause and manner of her death were deemed undetermined.
“While the investigation into the cause and manor of Cassie Carli’s death are ongoing, this current charge does not limit any agency or state from pursuing additional charges at the appropriate time,’’ Harmon said. “I am prevented by the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct from discussing matters involving current investigations and active cases other than the information that I provided above. Therefore, I will not be making further statements regarding this investigation unless additional charges are brought.”
Carli disappeared March 27 after meeting Spanevelo in a restaurant parking lot in Navarre, Florida to pick up their daughter following a visit with her father.
On Monday, March 28, Carli’s father reported her missing to Santa Rosa sheriff’s authorities.
The following day, her vehicle was found in the parking lot behind the Juana’s Pagodas restaurant where the pair had met for the child exchange. Her purse and its contents were inside the vehicle.
On Saturday, April 3, Carli’s body was found in a shallow grave in a barn on Highway 11 in Springville. The vacant property was one of two addresses in Springville that authorities had for Spanevelo.
Spanevelo had been living and working in Springville in the months prior to Carli’s disappearance.
