From The Tribune staff reports
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — St. Clair County District Attorney Lyle Harmon announced that Marcus Spanevelo had been charged with abuse of a corpse in the Cassie Carli case.
Harmon stated that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Santa Rosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, have found sufficient evidence and probable cause to bring the charge of abuse of Cassie Carli’s corpse in St. Clair County, Alabama, against Marcus Spanevelo.
According to Harmon, abuse of a corpse is classified as a Class C felony in Alabama and carries a range of punishment of 1 to 10 years. This charge has been pending since May of this year, and a hold has been placed on Marcus Spanevelo while he was in custody in the State of Florida.
On Friday, October 14, 2022, Spanevelo signed documents agreeing to extradition to the State of Alabama. Once he is brought to the State of Alabama to face this charge, St. Clair County court will address issues related to his right to counsel, bond, and the conditions of bond since Class C felonies such as this are bondable offenses in Alabama.
“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 stated.
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The body of 37-year-old Cassie Carli of Navarre, Florida, was found in a shallow grave during the search at 7826 U.S. Highway 11 in Springville when authorities executed a search warrant on a property in St. Clair County. The barn where Carli’s remains were located is believed to be located on Highway 11 in Springville.
Carli’s ex-boyfriend, Spanevelo, is said to have a connection with the property Carli was found on.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office stated in April 2022 that Spanevelo was arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was being held on charges of tampering with evidence, giving false information concerning a missing person investigation, and destruction of evidence.
Carli was last seen in a restaurant parking lot in Navarre, Florida, on Sunday, March 27, when she met Spanevelo so their daughter, Saylor, could visit him.
Carli’s father reported her missing to the Santa Rosa sheriff’s authorities on Monday, March 28.
Authorities later located Carli’s vehicle behind the restaurant where she had met Spanevelo on Sunday.
Carli’s daughter was located safe and unharmed.
“First and Foremost, our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Cassie Carli,” Harmon stated. “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. I appreciate the effort that the State Attorney’s Office in Florida and the Sheriff’s Office in Santa Rosa County, Florida, is investing into discovering who and what caused Cassie Carli’s death.
“While my office has no authority to dictate the criminal charges which the State of Florida may bring or the ability to influence the timing of how they travel through their court system, I appreciate the open and candid discussions that have taken place between the Office of the State Attorney in Florida and my office regarding this investigation. I will continue to lend them whatever assistance the law allows with the hope that the Carli family will have closure.
“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.”