Missouri man accused of burning body, leaving womans remains hidden for over a year

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, Mo., (KBSI) — A Cape Girardeau County man has been charged with abandonment of a corpse following an investigation into a missing person, according to a probable cause statement filed Jan. 13, 2026.

John Christopher Carr, a white male, is charged with abandonment of a corpse under Missouri law.

According to investigators, deputies with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence Tuesday morning in connection with a missing person investigation. The warrant was signed by Judge F. Miller.

Prior to the search, investigators made contact with Carr, the homeowner. Carr was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with investigators. During the interview, Carr initially stated the missing woman would not be located at the property but later admitted she had died more than a year earlier.

Carr told investigators the woman died from a fentanyl overdose while inside the residence. He stated she had reportedly been sober from fentanyl use for approximately 19 days at the time. Carr said he found her unresponsive on a couch and observed what appeared to be vomit. He attempted to speak with her and render aid but believed she was deceased because her body was cold to the touch.

Carr said he began dialing 911 but stopped after panicking when he noticed empty fentanyl capsules, fearing he would get into trouble. He told investigators he left the body on the couch for approximately a day and a half while unsure what to do.

According to the statement, Carr admitted he later wrapped the body in an Amish quilt and placed it in a fire pit near a shed on the property. He said the body was positioned in a semi-fetal position, with the head facing south toward the shed and the feet facing north toward a nearby creek. Carr told investigators he used wood to burn the body and continued burning trash and debris at the same location over the following year.

Carr stated the remains would likely be located about 18 inches below the surface of the burn pile, which he estimated to be approximately 2.5 feet tall. Investigators noted Carr became visibly emotional during the interview.

The case remains under investigation by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office.