FLORENCE — A Lauderdale County man killed inside his home Nov. 19 had his throat cut, was stabbed multiple times and was shot in the head, based on testimony during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing involving defendant Shannon Paul Brewer.

Sheriff’s investigator Richard Richey testified that a preliminary autopsy report indicated Mark Allen Dishon, 49, was stabbed in the back, face, chest and head, and his throat was cut.

Richey added that a forensics expert said Dishon was shot once in the back of the head after his throat had been cut and he had been stabbed multiple times.

Brewer, 24, of 7876 Lauderdale 200, Florence, is accused of killing Dishon while the two were together at Dishon’s residence at 64 Lauderdale 638, which is in the White’s Lake community, just north of Florence.

Brewer is charged with murder and second-degree assault in connection with the stabbing death of Dishon and an attack on Dishon’s ex-wife, Sandra Sikes, who was living at the residence. She had minor injuries, authorities said.

The case will now be reviewed by grand jurors to determine if those charges will stand, be dropped or if additional charges will be added.

Richey also testified Wednesday that witnesses reporting seeing Brewer leave a residence in Hale Trailer Park on Stoney Point Road the night of Nov. 19 and return a short time later covered with blood. Testimony indicated Brewer reportedly burned his clothes in a burn pile that was outside a residence where his brother, Jerry Lee Brewer III, was staying.

Testimony also was given that Sikes, 66, told deputies that Brewer cut her and stabbed Dishon.

“She didn’t know the man’s last name and referred to him as Shannon,” Richey said.

Testimony indicates Sikes identified Brewer from a photo.

After nearly three hours of testimony Wednesday, Brewer’s attorney, Melinda Austin, tried to convince Lauderdale County District Judge Carole Medley that the district attorney’s office had not provided enough evidence to present the case to a grand jury.

During cross-examination she pointed out there was no documentation showing how Shannon Brewer became a suspect.

“I’m satisfied that probable cause has been met and the case will be bound over to the grand jury,” Medley said after denying Austin’s motion.

Brewer’s brother, Jerry Lee Brewer III, whose previous address is 1402 S.W. Eighth St., Sheffield, is charged with first-degree theft of property in the case. He is accused of taking a car that he and his brother used to leave the area after Dishon was killed.

The brothers are accused of going to a convenience store on U.S. 43 and stealing a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. They were still in the Sequoia when taken into custody the next day in Tallahassee, Fla., according to reports.

Richey said Shannon Brewer stated while he was being questioned that he was at Dishon’s house watching television when the victim pulled a gun on him and pulled the trigger. He said the gun jammed and didn’t fire.

“He said they got into it and he stabbed Dishon, cut his throat and shot him in the back of the head,” Richey said.

Shannon Brewer is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.