Two men in custody as suspects in rural Dongola murder investigation

Two Southern Illinois men are in custody as suspects in the murder of a rural Dongola man.

Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds and Union County Sheriff David Livesay announced on Saturday, Oct. 31, that Tommy E. Reams, 27, of Dowell, and Michael S. Ellis, 26, of Elkville, had been charged in connection with the death of Gerald Dziczkowski, 57, of rural Dongola.

Dziczkowski was found dead at his home on the evening of Oct. 22.

Reams faces two counts of first degree murder and one count of home invasion.

Ellis is charged with one count of first degree murder and home invasion.

Reams was taken into custody in the early morning hours of Saturday by personnel from the Union County Sheriff's Department and the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Du Quoin police also assisted with the arrest.

Reams was being held at the Tri-County Detention Center at Ullin on $2 million bond.

Reams had his first appearance in Union County Circuit Court Monday morning.

Ellis was taken into custody early Sunday by authorities in Chickasaw County, Miss., on the Union County charge.

Ellis was arrested after he fled from a traffic safety roadblock in Chickasaw County. He also faces charges for the actions in the Mississippi county.

Union County State's Attorney Edmonds said Ellis was to have been returned to Union County Wednsday evening. His  bond also was set at $2 million. He is scheduled to appear in Union County Circuit Court Thursday, today.

Authorities are not releasing the cause of Dziczkowski's death. He was reported to have been bound with tape and an electrical cord and beaten with an air pistol. A possible motive for the attack also has not been released.

The sheriff stated that authorities have compiled a "very solid case" in their ongoing investigation of the murder.

The charges against Reams and Ellis followed an extensive investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Department investigation unit, Illinois State Police Zone 7 Investigations and the Jackson County Sheriff's Department investigation unit. The Murphysboro Police Department also assisted in the investigation.