2 arrested after body found in garage in St. Paul

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Two people have been arrested in relation to the death of an adult male found in a garage in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of St. Paul on Friday.

According to police, a concerned citizen called about a body around 3 p.m. at 607 Lawson Ave. E. When police arrived, a grim discovery revealed the body of what is believed to be an adult male.

Police said the body had been there for a "significant amount of time...possibly weeks."

At this time, the cause of death is unknown.

John Michael Erickson, 49, was arrested under suspicion of murder. Patricia Dawn Yucker, 47, was arrested for interfering with the body and concealing evidence. The two lived in the home attached to the garage where the body was found, and were arrested after a line of questioning by police.

This incident left many in the neighborhood rattled.

"I'm ready to move," Tonya Nicholson told Fox 9. "I got kids, and I don't wan them being around this type of stuff."

Nicholson is shocked her neighbors are now prime suspects in a homicide investigation. She recalled Erickson occasionally calling Yucker his girlfriend.

"I thought they were a little off before, and if they did this, then I definitely believe something was wrong with both of them," said Nicholson. "That's crazy to take somebody's life like that."

Over the past year alone, police had been called to the home a dozen times for a range of disturbances, including fights and drug possession.

"I probably called them maybe once," Nicholson recalled. "It was like 3 o'clock in the morning, they were out [in the yard] yelling and screaming."

It is believed that both suspects knew the victim, though the victim's identity has yet to be determined.

As the investigation continues, the Ramsey County medical examiner is working to identify the victim, along with the exact cause and matter of death.

This is the 15th homicide in St. Paul this year.