WILLIAMSON COUNTY — A rural Williamson County man has been charged in the death of 62-year-old Donald R. Schultz of Marion whose body was found in his home in the 200 block of East Marion Street Saturday.

Marion Police say 33-year-old Ernest Alex Pulliam was arrested Tuesday in Cape Girardeau.

Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti has charged Pulliam with 3 counts of first-degree murder. Counts 1 and 2 deal with the intent to kill and knowing the act would cause death. The third count deals with the killing of a victim over the age of 60 during the commission of an armed robbery on or about January 15, 2019.

An autopsy was done Monday and the cause of death was ruled a homicide.

Autopsy results showed that Schultz died as a result of chopping and slicing to the head and body with a machete type weapon.

Pulliam is being held in the Cape Girardeau County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Illinois. His bond was set at $1 million.