A Coffee County man is being held on a $1.5 million bond after authorities say he killed a woman and then abused her corpse over the weekend.
Gregory Scott Hale, 37, of Summitville, was taken into custody Sunday after authorities received information that he allegedly killed a woman at his home. Officials say the victim has been identified as Lisa Marie Hyder of Pikeville, not from DeKalb County as some media outlets have reported.
Hale is being charged with first degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Hale allegedly confessed to killing Hyder. Her body has been sent to the state medical examiner in Nashville for autopsy to determine cause of death.
According to the arrest warrant, Hale allegedly beheaded Hyder after killing her, cut off her hands, and placed the body parts in a plastic bucket. He then cut off her feet and other body parts, placing them in another bucket. The warrant states that Hale buried the torso of the body in a burn pile at his home.
Hale also allegedly admitted to “eating part of the victim,” the warrant states.
Hale is currently being represented by the public defender’s office. He will appear in court on June 1.