The Middle Village man accused in the murders and dismemberments of two men was slapped with an upgraded first-degree murder charge in a Riverhead court on Tuesday.

Darren Lynch was originally charged with second-degree murder in the July killings of Joseph Odierno and Jairo Santos. Police say Lynch confessed to shooting the victims in the head, cutting up their bodies and dumping the remains in Coram.

Authorities say the shootings were sparked by a drug deal gone bad. Lynch?s girlfriend, Leah Reynolds, and friend James Wall, of Coram, were also charged in the case. Wall is facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly holding the victims at gunpoint. Police say Reynolds helped transport the body parts and hid murder weapons.

Wall?s lawyer, Eric Naiberg, says his client?s involvement in the alleged murders was ?extremely minor,? and that he believes the court will recognize that.

Lynch?s lawyer offered no comment.

All three pleaded not guilty and are due back in court Sept. 15.