‘I will start ending others’: Man who allegedly called himself a failure before chopping up random guy he just met is headed to trial

A Michigan man accused of killing a person he met through the Grindr dating app  — whose severed foot was found in a river, while his head and torso were discovered at a separate location — appeared in court Tuesday for a preliminary examination, during which a judge determined he will stand trial.

Robert Dale Tweedly Jr., 40, is charged with one count of open murder and disinterment and mutilation of a body in the death of Justie Stilwell, 41, according to Bay County prosecutors.

Stilwell had been reported missing by his family on Sept. 18, 2024, and his foot was found in the Saginaw River near the Edward M. Golson Boat Launch several hours later.

Digital evidence and a search of Tweedly’s home allegedly uncovered evidence that linked Tweedly to the killing, according to prosecutors. Tweedly allegedly pushed Stilwell down a flight of stairs and strangled him to death.

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Bay City Department of Public Safety Det. Ben Krzyminski took the stand Tuesday and described how Tweedly allegedly tried to “confess to everything” after coming into contact with police on Sept. 25, according to MLive. Following his arrest, Tweedly allegedly helped investigators find more of Stilwell’s remains and led them to where they were located.

Medical examiner and forensic pathology expert Dr. Patrick Cho, who performed Stilwell’s autopsy, recalled how Stilwell’s body had been mutilated after his death. He said Stilwell died from strangulation and blunt force injury to the head, per MLive.

Court documents reportedly outline how Tweedly spoke openly with cops about what allegedly happened to Stilwell — claiming he was drunk and high on methamphetamine when he took the man’s life. The two men had met up to “talk” about things going on in Tweedly’s life.

“He came over and we were just going to talk,” Tweedly allegedly told detectives, according to MLive. “He was going to help me, kind of comfort me, try to guide me out of my crap,” Tweedly allegedly said. “I had to’ve snapped. Maybe he said the wrong thing. I don’t remember everything that was said, I just know that I killed him.”

Stilwell’s family reported him missing on Sept. 18 after he hadn’t shown up for days to his job as a custodian at a middle school in Bay City, more than 100 miles north of Detroit, authorities said. His remains were found hours later when a girl discovered his severed foot in the Saginaw River.

“It being near Halloween, I thought it was some kind of prank,” the girl’s grandfather, John Donaldson, told MLive at the time. “I went down there, and it initially looked like a doll’s foot.”

Police were called, and a homicide investigation was launched. Stilwell’s arms and legs were recovered, confirmed by the victim’s fingerprints, officials said in a press release. Authorities reported finding Stilwell’s vehicle at a park across the river.

Authorities said they also found information at Tweedly’s home about where Stilwell’s head and torso had been dumped elsewhere in the city.

Tweedly allegedly told detectives that he drank 14 beers and smoked meth before killing Stilwell and chopping him up, MLive reports.

“I remember bits and pieces about it,” Tweedly allegedly told police. “I just thought it was a dream because I woke up on the couch the next day and everything was back to normal. The house was clean. So I just thought it was a big old nightmare.”

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Prosecutors say Tweedly used a 28-inch ax to dismember Stilwell in his basement and reusable lawn bags to dispose of him.

“The last thing I remember, we were hugging,” Tweedly allegedly told police, according to MLive. “He gave me a hug because I started crying or something.”

Facebook posts were later uncovered by investigators that allegedly showed Tweedly referencing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and struggles with depression, sobriety and his mother’s 2015 death. The alleged posts were put up in the spring of 2024 and later deleted, according to MLive. Police reportedly confirmed their existence to the local media outlet.

“Way I look at is this if I don’t end my own life I will start ending others,” one post allegedly read.

“Which would u prefer me to do… cuz my hitlist is long,” Tweedly allegedly added. “More then what Jeffery Dahmer did.”

In an April 2024 post, Tweedly allegedly described being “tired of not being able to be successful and happy,” per MLive. He allegedly claimed he wanted to “peace the [expletive] out of this world,” according to police investigators. On Aug. 12, 2024, Tweedly allegedly wrote,”Yes I can’t wait I’m tired of living. I’m tired of all u [expletives] telling me how to live and telling me I can’t drink I can’t do drugs I can’t I can’t I can’t well I’m old enough I [expletive] hate u all.”

Tweedly was bound over Tuesday by a Bay County judge and is now set to be prosecuted for his charges. A trial date does not appear to have been set yet.

Jason Kandel contributed to this report. 

The post ‘I will start ending others’: Man who allegedly called himself a failure before chopping up random guy he just met is headed to trial first appeared on Law & Crime.