Landlord tricked into burying victim

HOUSTON (CNN) - What was supposed to be a dog's grave has turned out to be a crime scene for a murder investigation. Police outside Houston said a landlord may have been tricked into helping a suspected killer bury an alleged murder victim.

It all started when Ronald James Dewars went missing on Nov. 27. Fort Bend County Deputies figured out Dewars was last seen trying to sell his car near Coldspring, the place where they later found his body.

"Sheriff deputies found the missing car along Highway 156. However, Dewars was no longer selling his vehicle: James Michael McLaughlin was. McLaughlin happened to arrive at the time deputies were investigating the car. He led police on a short chase that ended with his arrest.

McLaughlin was taken into custody on an unrelated, outstanding felony warrant. However, when hearing about the arrest, McLaughlin's landlord started thinking about a strange incident.

"Mr. McLaughlin requested the landlord to dig a hole on his property," said Bill Burnett, District Attorney of San Jacinto County. "The reason being that Mr. McLaughlin told him he has a St. Bernard Great Dane mix dog that he wanted to bury."

The landlord used his backhoe to dig the hole, just yards away from McLaughlin's trailer. Authorities said McLaughlin covered the body with plywood and without knowing it, the landlord covered the hole with dirt.

James Michael McLaughlin and Rebecca McLaughlin face murder charges. However the motive and timetable for the crime remains unknown.