Marcus Lee Hayes, 38, learned his fate Tuesday in an Ingham County courtroom: life in prison without the possibility of parole. The mandatory sentence came on top of 46 months to life for mutilating a body, sealing the outcome for a Lansing murder case that prosecutors described as calculated and brutal.
TL;DR: Marcus Lee Hayes was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, to life without parole plus 46 months to life by Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes for the 2024 murder and dismemberment of 25-year-old Zacarri Marquise Taylor in Lansing, Michigan. A jury had convicted Hayes of first-degree murder and mutilation of a body last month.
The sentencing caps the second half of a case involving two brothers. Marcus Hayes’ older brother, Leonard Felton Hayes III, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder and mutilation of a body in March in the same killing. A third man, Terrance Jones, 39, who was charged with mutilating a body and being an accessory after the fact, pleaded guilty to the accessory charge.
A killing caught on security video
Zacarri Marquise Taylor, 25, was strangled inside an apartment in southwest Lansing, an altercation that investigators say was captured on security video. Taylor’s body was later cut into pieces at a different residence elsewhere in Lansing, authorities said.
Prosecutors charged all three defendants as fourth-time habitual offenders — a classification that sharply increases potential sentences. Two of the three men had been out of prison only a short time before the killing.
Sentencing day in Lansing
Tuesday’s hearing gave Taylor’s family the chance to address the court before Judge Wanda Stokes handed down the sentence.
The victim’s cousin, Jennifer Sauceda, told the judge directly: “He don’t deserve to be seen outside in the world again.”
Judge Stokes agreed that the life term fit the crime, remarking that “life (in prison) is fair. We can’t do anything more.” Because Michigan law mandates life without parole for a first-degree murder conviction, the sentence was the maximum available under the law.
What comes next
With both Hayes brothers now convicted and sentenced, the prosecution of Taylor’s killing is largely concluded. Jones faces sentencing on the accessory charge to which he pleaded guilty.
Photo credit: Ingham County Courthouse image via gamblinginsider.com. Reporting based on coverage by the Lansing State Journal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Marcus Lee Hayes?
Marcus Lee Hayes, 38, is a Michigan man convicted of first-degree murder and mutilation of a body in the 2024 killing of Zacarri Marquise Taylor in Lansing. He was charged as a fourth-time habitual offender.
What was Marcus Hayes sentenced to?
On Oct. 20, 2026, Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes sentenced Hayes to life in prison without parole on the murder count — the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder — plus 46 months to life for mutilation of a body.
Who was the victim?
Zacarri Marquise Taylor, 25, was strangled in an apartment in southwest Lansing. His body was later dismembered at a separate Lansing residence.
Was there video evidence in the case?
Yes. According to investigators, the altercation in which Taylor was strangled was captured on security video at the southwest Lansing apartment.
Who else was charged in the case?
Marcus Hayes’ brother, Leonard Felton Hayes III, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder and mutilation of a body in March. A third defendant, Terrance Jones, 39, was charged with mutilating a body and accessory after the fact, and pleaded guilty to the accessory charge.
What did the victim’s family say at sentencing?
The victim’s cousin, Jennifer Sauceda, told the judge: “He don’t deserve to be seen outside in the world again.”
What did the judge say about the sentence?
Judge Wanda Stokes said “life (in prison) is fair. We can’t do anything more,” noting the life-without-parole term is the maximum Michigan law allows for first-degree murder.
What does “fourth-time habitual offender” mean?
Under Michigan law, a person convicted of three or more prior felonies faces enhanced sentencing when charged with a new felony, which increases the penalties available to the court.
