Medical Examiner Determines Macomb Mother Was Shot Twice In The Head

A new search warrant in the investigation of Makayla Meave-Byers' death has led to investigators revealing her possible cause of death.

Monday, October 2nd 2023, 10:23 pm

By: News 9, Sylvia Corkill

A new search warrant is shedding light on the investigation into the murder of a Pottawatomie County mother.

With no arrests made, new court filings reveal Makayla Meave-Byers was shot twice in the head. And while investigators have remained tight-lipped, evidence revealed in a series of court filings suggests where the victim may have been killed. Days after missing persons posters circulated on social media the search for Byers came to a tragic end.

Makayla was found just 500 yards from her home.

Relative: I was searching with my friend for my cousin Makayla Meave, and I think we just found her.

911: Ma’am, take a deep breath, okay?

“The body was wrapped in some carpet and it was in a culvert under the road,” said Pottawatomie County Undersheriff Travis Dinwiddie.

The missing persons case turned murder investigation--- triggered a family feud, and public outcry after the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office said Makayla's husband told them- the two maintained an open relationship, and that his wife disappeared while on a date.

“The information we were given is that she had left to go on a date and never returned home,” said Dinwiddie.

A flurry of search warrants followed. Court filings revealed while the couple lived on the same rural Macomb property, they maintained "separate tiny homes."

Inside Makayla's home documents showed investigators discovered blood and two .22 caliber shell casings under her bed. According to a sheriff's report investigators recovered a .22 caliber rifle from Makayla's husband's home that appeared to be recently fired. The latest filing also showed investigators collected "a pair of work bloody work boots."

Following Makayla's disappearance records showed "two phones were used to make calls from her phone number." And that investigators recovered the phones in her "husband’s bedroom dresser.

During a phone call with News 9, Makayla's husband stated that he loved his wife and had nothing to do with her death.

Sylvia Corkill

Sylvia Corkill joined the News 9 team in October of 2016. If you're an early bird you can see her reporting weekdays in the field or at the desk filling in.