South Dakota man’s body found 'partially stuffed in bag' and surrounded by maggots
07/10/2023 3:49 pm PDT
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (TCD) -- A suspect reportedly admitted to killing a 63-year-old man with a piece of wood, then putting his body inside a large garment bag and leaving it in the victim’s apartment.
According to court documents cited by KELO-TV, on the morning of July 5, Sioux Falls Police Department officers responded to an apartment building on North Cliff Avenue after receiving a call from a landlord who said they found the victim deceased inside. The caller reportedly said, "Something weird is going on."
The landlord reportedly previously received a call from a caseworker at Southeast Behavioral Healthcare because they could not get in contact with the victim, Nigussie Bulti. Sioux Falls Police officers made their way into the apartment and discovered Bulti in a black bag in the bedroom. Paramedics declared him dead at 9:29 a.m.
A Sioux Falls Police detective wrote in the affidavit that he could "smell the strong odor of decomposition emanating from the apartment building," and it "grew stronger" near Bulti’s unit. According to the affidavit, part of Bulti’s body was sticking out of the bag.
The rug near the bag was reportedly "flipped up and the deceased person’s head was on this portion of the rug."
Police found blood on the rug as well. Officers found a pair of bloody shoes in a trash can and a box cutter near the door of the apartment.
The Southeast Behavioral Healthcare caseworker told police Bulti missed a scheduled appointment, which is why she wanted the landlord to check on him. Bulti had been living in the apartment for five years.
Detectives obtained a search warrant to look through Bulti’s apartment and discovered several bloody items, including a broken fan, a knife with an antler handle, and cords. The affidavit also says Bulti’s body had "maggots and flies surrounding it — indicating that the body has been there for a period greater than just a few hours."
A witness told police they saw Morningstar Jewett near Bulti’s apartment recently. Jewett was known to police because he was arrested July 4 and was awaiting release from the Minnehaha County Jail after being granted a bond. KELO reports Jewett allegedly spat on a police officer and threatened law enforcement officials.
A detective went to the jail and requested to see the clothes Jewett was wearing when he was taken into custody, and he reportedly "noted a pair of blue jeans had suspected blood on them." Jewett also reportedly had shoes that matched tread marks found in Bulti’s apartment.
Detectives spoke with Jewett, and he initially denied involvement, then allegedly later admitted to killing Bulti, saying, "You got me. ...I did it, though."
According to the affidavit, Jewett claimed Bulti tried to pull his girlfriend against a wall and started fighting with her.
Jewett reportedly said, "I beat the brakes off him. He tried to get up. I grabbed a piece of wood and I smacked him in the back of the head with the wood. He hit the ground. I assaulted him again."
Jewett allegedly added that he "stomped on him a few times," but did not know "how he ended up dead."
He tried to find the keys to the apartment to lock the doors.
Jewett alleged Bulti threw a fan at him, and "things escalated."
The affidavit says Jewett stomped on Bulti’s head about six times, then he allegedly "kicked him in the jaw one time to knock him unconscious."
After he knocked Bulti out, other people allegedly went to the apartment in an attempt to clean it up.
Jewett is being charged with two counts of aggravated assault.
KELO reports Jewett was released from prison June 27.
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on TikTok.
