Police: Body found near church in East St. Louis is man from St. Charles

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Police have identified a body found near an East St. Louis church as that of a 37-year-old man from St. Charles, Mo.

Lt. David Hayes of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said Sunday that the victim was Andrew "Andy" Bethman. Hayes said authorities aren't saying how Bethman died but did confirm his death was a homicide.

Authorities say a cleaning person working at an East St. Louis church found the body outside the building Saturday. Police say the body was in an advanced state of decay.

Bethman's family has offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads authorities to his killer.