Man who pleaded guilty to murdering, mutilating college student sentenced to life in prison

SHIAWASSEE CO., Mich. (WNEM) - The Shiawassee County man who pleaded guilty to killing and mutilating a University of Michigan-Flint college student has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Mark David Latunski pleaded guilty to homicide open murder, and disinterment and mutilation during a plea hearing on Thursday, Sept. 22. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Latunski pleaded guilty to brutally murdering 25-year-old Kevin Bacon, who was a student at the University of Michigan-Flint, in December 2019. Latunski met Bacon through a dating app.

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Bacon was found murdered inside Latunski’s Bennington Township home on Dec. 28, 2019, after going missing on Christmas Eve.

After Bacon’s body was found, Latunski admitted to police he killed Bacon and had eaten part of his body. Latunski told police he used a knife to stab Bacon in the back, then slit his throat, according to court records.

During a 2020 hearing, grisly details emerged about what happened in Latunski’s home that night.

The following statement was read in court by a victim advocate on behalf of Kevin Bacon’s mother, Pamela Bacon, during Latunski’s sentencing:

“In your sick, twisted mind, you probably don’t think you did anything wrong. But in reality, you took our world away. This Christmas, I hope you suffer like we have because you won’t be able to be with your family. I hope you feel pain as you are all alone with all the years yet to come.”

Before Latunski learned his fate, his attorney Mary Chartier addressed the court.

“While Mr. Latunski is remorseful and truly regrets his actions, he knows that he cannot turn back the clock, and he certainly cannot bring Mr. Bacon back to life,” Chartier said.

Then Shiawassee County Prosecutor Scott Koerner had his say.

“I tried to think of a word for this murder. What came to my mind is pure evil and the ripple effect it had on the family, the friends of Kevin, the court staff, my staff, and anybody who has to read this horrific story,” Koerner said.

After Shiawassee County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Stewart sentenced Latunski to life in prison without the possibility of parole, he acknowledged the loss of Kevin Bacon.

“To Mr. Bacon’s family, I know nothing can ease your suffering. And I know that the weight of your pain is without measure. But it’s my hope that perhaps today’s sentence would be a small amount of comfort in what I know is an enormity of hurt,” Stewart said.

After the sentencing, Pamela Bacon said her son was a generous and kind person.

“He would want everybody to move forward and do what they had to do for their goals and dreams. And I’m going to say it like my daughter said, ‘please be careful on the internet because you never know what’s going to happen,” she said.

She has lived without her son for almost three years.

“We will always miss him and love him no matter what,” Pamela Bacon said. “We are going to miss him. And Christmas and everything will never be the same for us ever again.”

She said what Latunski did not only took away her son but also caused even more irreparable damage to her family.

“Because of Latunski, we divorced. And it’s not been an easy thing to do. And trying to cope with my daughter right now, because of what Latunski did, my daughter blames me. I don’t know why, but she blames me for what happened with the divorce and what’s happened to Kevin. So she kind of doesn’t want to talk to me right now,” Pamela Bacon said.

She said she understands, but it still hurts.

Pamela Bacon also said the one thing Latunski can never take from her is the memories she had with her son.

“He was an angel to us and he always will be,” she said.

Latunski has 42 days to appeal his sentence.

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