Whitwell, TN – A 56-year-old Tennessee man has been arrested for allegedly hiding and burning the body of his father in a firepit. Richard Keith Wilder faces one count of abuse of a corpse, a Class E felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine under state law.
Investigators Recover Human Remains from Firepit
According to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, investigators obtained information that Wilder hid and burned his deceased father’s body at a location on Mullins Cove, a rural area near Tennessee’s borders with Alabama and Georgia.
Sheriff’s officials told Sequatchie Valley Now that detectives, along with the district attorney’s office, quickly located the human remains in a firepit and sent them to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville for confirmation.
Detectives from the neighboring Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the recovery of the remains. Preliminary results confirming the identity of the deceased are expected in the coming days.
Arrest and Charges
On August 14, 2025, Wilder was arrested at his Whitwell residence with the assistance of the 12th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, according to the sheriff’s news release.
Wilder was booked into the Marion County Justice Center and is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Wednesday, August 20.
Investigation Details and Timeline
Marion County Sheriff Ronnie “Bo” Burnett told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the investigation began in 2024. Authorities stated that Wilder’s father passed away in December of that year, and Wilder allegedly transported him to Mullins Cove and attempted to destroy the body by fire.
The cause of death remains unclear as the investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement has said no additional information will be released at this time.
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