FLORENCE — The family of a Lauderdale County man stabbed to death Nov. 19 wants the person responsible to receive the maximum penalty.

“We want him held accountable,” said Joan Dishon, sister-in-law of the victim, Mark
Dishon, 49.

She said the family is particularly upset with the demeanor of the man accused of killing him, Shannon Paul Brewer, 24, 7876 Lauderdale 200, Florence. Brewer has been seen several times laughing and smiling since the incident.

Brewer is charged with murder and second-degree assault in connection with the stabbing death of Mark Dishon and the attack on Dishon’s ex-wife, Sandra Sikes.

Sikes was at the house at 64 Lauderdale 638 during the attack and sustained minor injuries from a stab wound. The house is near White’s Lake.

Bail was set Friday at $1 million for Brewer, and $150,000 for his brother, Jerry Lee Brewer, 23, 1402 S.W. Eighth St., Sheffield, who reportedly stole a vehicle they used to leave the area after Dishon was killed.

Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said Friday his office is considering upgrading the charges against Shannon Brewer to capital murder.

Investigators said in addition to being accused of killing Dishon, Shannon Brewer also stole a heater and a pistol from the residence.

The heater was sold at a pawn shop in Georgia, and the pistol was recovered when the Brewers were apprehended in Florida, officials said.

The brothers were captured about 14 hours after the attack was reported by U.S. Marshal agents in Tallahassee, Fla. They were brought back to Florence on Thursday.

The brothers appeared in front of District Court Judge Carole Medley on Friday morning, when bail was set.

They were smiling widely as they were led from the courthouse elevator into the fifth-floor courtroom.

After having their bail set, the brothers were smiling and giggling as they waited on Medley to finish other hearings.

Their demeanor did not go unnoticed.

“It’s very upsetting to me and the family of the victim that they would come in so callous and appear to be laughing and smiling when this is a very serious charge that involves a dead man,” Connolly said after Friday’s hearing.

Dishon said the brothers’ attitude bothers her family. She said the family saw a Florida television station’s video after the brothers were taken into custody, and “they didn’t show a lot of remorse.”

“What really bothers us is they don’t seem to be taking this seriously,” Dishon said. “It appears they think it’s a big joke.

“How can it be taken as a joke when (Shannon Brewer) went into my brother-in-law’s home and took his life? We want to know why he took an innocent man’s life, a man who supposedly was his friend.”

Investigators said Brewer often visited Dishon at the residence, adding they grilled out on occasions.

Joan Dishon said her brother-in-law, who had four brothers and a sister, moved to Florence about two years ago.

Dishon was pronounced dead at his residence after authorities said he was stabbed multiple times.

Sheriff’s investigator Richard Richey, who is heading the investigation, said a motive for the stabbing has not been determined.

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