Richard Keith Wilder, a 56-year-old man from Whitwell, Tennessee, was arrested on August 14, 2025 and charged with one count of abuse of a corpse after Marion County deputies alleged he had burned his deceased father’s body in a fire pit along a rural road. The charge is a Class E felony under Tennessee law.1WDEF News. Marion County Man Arrested After Authorities Say He Burned His Father’s Body in Fire Pit
What Deputies Say Happened
According to Marion County Sheriff Ronnie “Bo” Burnett, investigators developed information that Wilder’s father had died in December 2024 and that Wilder later transported the body to Mullins Cove, a rural area near the Alabama and Georgia borders, and attempted to destroy it by fire in a fire pit.2Law & Crime. Son Charged After Dad’s Body Found Hidden and Burned in Firepit Off Rural Road Wilder was booked into the Marion County Jail and was scheduled for an initial appearance in General Sessions Court on August 20, 2025.3Times Free Press. Whitwell Man Charged With Abuse of Father’s Corpse
How the Case Came Together
The arrest followed a joint investigation by the Marion County and Hamilton County sheriff’s offices, investigators from the district attorney’s office, and the 12th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Detectives went to the Mullins Cove site and recovered human remains from a fire pit. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville for official identification.4Local 3 News. Marion Co. Man Accused of Burning, Hiding His Father’s Body Arrested Thursday
What Has Not Been Disclosed
At the time of the arrest, investigators had not released a cause of death for the father or stated whether foul play was suspected in the death itself.5Miami Herald. Son Charged After Father’s Body Found Burned in Fire Pit Sheriff Burnett told reporters it was not yet confirmed whether foul play was involved, and no motive was disclosed. The sheriff described the investigation as ongoing.4Local 3 News. Marion Co. Man Accused of Burning, Hiding His Father’s Body Arrested Thursday
What the Charge Means Under Tennessee Law
Abuse of a corpse is defined at Tennessee Code § 39-17-312. Without legal privilege, a person commits the offense by knowingly physically mistreating a corpse in a manner offensive to ordinary sensibilities, illegally disinterring a buried corpse, or disposing of a corpse in a manner known to violate the law. It is a Class E felony.6Justia. Tennessee Code § 39-17-312, Abuse of a Corpse
A Class E felony in Tennessee carries a prison term of one to six years and a fine of up to $3,000. The actual sentence within that range depends on the defendant’s criminal history and other factors weighed by the court.7Justia. Tennessee Code § 40-35-111, Authorized Terms of Imprisonment and Fines
Where the Case Stands
As of reporting in August 2025, Wilder had been charged and was awaiting his initial General Sessions Court hearing. The investigation was still open, with authorities awaiting the Medical Examiner’s identification of the remains. No additional charges had been announced, and no plea had been entered. Later developments, including any indictment, plea, or trial, are not reflected in available reporting.