A Bay City man suffocated and dismembered himself after meeting an accused killer on a dating app

BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) – New details have been uncovered in court records related to the investigation into the death and dismemberment of Bay City resident Justie Stilwell.

On September 18, Stilwell’s arms and lower legs were found at a boat launch on North Johnson Street in Bay City.

Related: Bay City authorities identify the victim whose remains were found

On September 25, 40-year-old Robert Tweedly Jr. was arrested at a home in Bay City, and on September 27 he was charged with open murder, a crime against life, and exhumation and mutilation of a corpse, a 10-year felony.

During the arraignment, prosecutors told the court that Tweedly had confessed to his involvement in Stilwell’s murder.

Related: Bay City resident charged with open murder in Justie Stilwell case

Court records show that details released last month during a probable cause hearing indicated that the two men allegedly met through the dating app Grindr. Tweedy allegedly told police that Stilwell came to his house on September 14 but wanted to leave shortly thereafter; he then pushed Stilwell down the basement stairs and choked him to death.

After failing to get the body up the mountain, Tweedly allegedly went to a Walmart in Bangor Township to buy a rope, which did not help, court records show.

The next morning, he returned to Walmart to buy an ax and bags to dismember Stilwell’s body. Tweedy allegedly said he then threw his legs and arms into the Saginaw River and placed his head and torso near the boat launch behind the General Motors plant, court records show.

Tweedly remains jailed on $1 million bail.

A celebration of Stilwell’s life will be held tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Skorupski Family Funeral and Cremation Home in Hampton Township. Visitation begins at 2 p.m., followed by private burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

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