Murder victim discovered

The body of Anthon Mario Matthews was found inside this East Lane Street trailer Monday. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Order this photo]

Shelbyville police are investigating a homicide they say occurred due to a robbery.

The body of Anthon Mario Matthews, 31, was found at his East Lane Trailer Park residence by maintenance workers around noon Monday, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said. Matthews was known as "Yo" or "Mac-Yo" on the streets, Crews said.

"We think he was murdered when a robbery was being committed," Crews said. "The exact cause of death is unknown but he suffered injuries to the head. We're leaning toward gunshot wounds."

The cause of death was determined by the state medical examiner's officer to be a gunshot wound to the head, Crews said later this morning.

No money or drugs were found in the residence, according to Crews. Signs of a struggle were apparent, the detective said.

Investigators are unsure when the murder took place, but Crews said the last time Matthews had spoken to anyone was Thursday night.

Crews said there are no suspects as of yet.

"Matthews has no police record here," Crews said. "He does have a previous record elsewhere of possession of drugs for resale. We feel like drugs were a contributing factor to his death and that he was in town selling drugs. We're confident he was a drug dealer."

Matthews' body was at the state crime lab in Nashville this morning for an autopsy, Crews said, with Detective Charles Merlo and SPD evidence technician Bill Logue observing. An exact cause of death was expected to be determined later today.

"We got a call about possible abandoned dogs ­-- maintenance workers had called city animal control, who aren't authorized to go into apartments," Crews said. "Maintenance people opened the door and found the body."

The victim is originally from Memphis, Crews said, and has also lived in Tullahoma. Matthews had lived in the East Lane trailer since April, investigators said.

The body was in relatively good condition considering the heat and the time it had been in the home, Crews said.