A man in the US was charged with killing the person he says sexually abused him as a child, but now claims he actually murdered a total of 16 people, including his ex-wife.
Sean Lannon, 47, is accused of beating Michael Dabkowski to death with a hammer in East Greenwich Township, New Jersey, along with robbery and burglary, having been arrested earlier this month in Missouri.
According to Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Alec Gutierrez, Lannon admitted to killing Dabkowski during police questioning after being read his rights, but also said he killed 15 other people in New Mexico, including estranged wife Jennifer, 39.
Advert
Speaking in court on Friday (19 March), Gutierrez said: "He admitted to killing a total of 16 people... 15 being in New Mexico and one in the State of New Jersey.
"It's my understanding that the FBI is assisting New Mexico in their investigation.
Advert
Gutierrez said that, along with Dabkowski and his ex-wife, Lannon claimed the other 11 victims were drug dealers.
He continued: "In this Mirandised statement, the defendant did admit to the instances in New Mexico that would be homicides in New Mexico.
"He admitted to the dismemberment of some of the individuals involved in those homicides.
Advert
"He admitted his efforts in an attempt to conceal evidence, I'll put it, in those homicides.
"And he admitted to killing a total of 16 people."
The Albuquerque Police Department previously said it would be questioning Lannon in connection with four dismembered bodies found in a parking garage at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport on 5 March, although no charges have been filed in that case thus far.
One of those bodies was that of his former partner Jennifer.
Lannon told investigators that 66-year-old Dabkowski - who had been a mentor to him in his youth - had sexually abused him as a child and that he had gone to East Greenwich Township to retrieve explicit photos of them together.
Advert
He attended the court heating on Friday remotely, but did not testify and was not asked to enter a plea.
Judge Mary Beth Kramer ordered Lannon to be held without bail.
She said the nature of his charges and the fact that he was apprehended as a fugitive made him a serious flight risk, adding: "I find that he is a danger to the community."
Featured Image Credit: Salem County Jail