Jackson Pierce, an 18-year-old man from St. Peters, Missouri, is facing charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence.
The charges come in the wake of the discovery of the body of Dalton Coleman, aged 23, who was found in a closet, rolled up in an air mattress and bound with an electrical cord.
On January 8, 2024, St. Peters police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Willott Square Drive.
They were responding to a tip about a suspected homicide, which led them to the grim discovery and the arrest of Jackson Pierce. Alongside Pierce, a juvenile was arrested on unspecified charges.
Things began to unravel that day when a man who lived at the home with Pierce, referred to as the witness, had to leave for work.
The witness later received a call from Pierce, who reported that Coleman, who was an acquaintance of Pierce, was at their house exhibiting erratic behavior and seeking unspecified belongings.
The witness attempted to mediate the situation over the phone, speaking to Pierce and Coleman and advising Pierce to secure a firearm that was in the home and other “things of value” and store them in Pierce’s room.
Shortly after, the witness received another call from Pierce, who confessed to fatally shooting the victim following a physical confrontation. Pierce was advised to call the police but refused to do so, forcing the witness to make the call.
According to Pierce, Coleman had barged into the bedroom, prompting a scuffle over the firearm. Pierce alleged that he shot Coleman multiple times during this altercation. An autopsy later confirmed the victim had sustained close to 15 gunshot wounds.
Despite the witness’s advice to contact authorities, Pierce chose not to, leading him to seek legal counsel.
In response, the St. Peters Police Department conducted surveillance of the home. A SWAT team was eventually dispatched to the scene, ending in the apprehension of Pierce and the juvenile suspect.
The police investigation revealed disturbing details. After Coleman’s death, Pierce and the juvenile allegedly attempted to cleanse the crime scene with dish soap. Shell casings were discovered in various trash cans around the home, and Coleman’s body was found hidden inside the air mattress.
Pierce is being detained at the St. Charles County Jail, his bail set at $1 million cash.
