St. Clair County man faces charges in connection with decomposing body found in Dupo
A Dupo man is facing multiple felony charges including murder in connection with the death of a Wood River man who went missing in 2021.
Kaylon T. List, 39, has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping-inflicting harm, kidnapping, concealing a homicidal death, aggravated unlawful restraint, and unlawful restraint.
Eric Grindstaff, 33, had last been seen on May 25, 2021, when he was reported missing to police. Dupo Police said at the time he was in the process of moving from his grandmother’s house in Wood River to the village when he disappeared.
On June 23 of that year, the Dupo police officers found a suspicious vehicle partially hidden at List’s home in the 4000 block of Elm Street. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a badly decomposed body, later identified as Grindstaff through dental records and by a paw print tattoo on his chest.
Dupo police requested assistance from Illinois State Police to investigate. A search warrant led to the recovery of weapons from List’s home, according to a release from state police Wednesday.
Grindstaff had been using drugs on and off for about 15 years, said his mother, Kimberly Meyer, in July of 2021.
“Even though he had a drug problem, his life should not have been taken from him. No one has the right to take another life,” she said in an interview with the BND. “I want justice for my son.”
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office charged List on March 3. He being held at the Yankton Prison in South Dakota on the federal weapons charge and is awaiting extradition back to St. Clair County to be indicted on the six charges related to Grindstaff’s death.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM.
