A Tennessee man killed a woman, dismembered her body and then ate the corpse, authorities said Tuesday.
Gregory S. Hale is accused of murdering the woman at his home in Coffee County. He then cut the body and ate pieces of the victim, the Associated Press reported.
Hale, 37, was arrested at his home on Sunday and charged with premeditated first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, Coffee County District Attorney Mickey Layne told the AP.
As of Tuesday reports say the victim has been identified as 36-year-old Lisa Marie Hyder, who lived in Sequatchie County but was staying in Coffee County, according to WGNS Radio
Authorities were alerted to the alleged homicide when a neighbor had a conversation with Hale and reported that he suspected a murder had taken place.
The nature of the conversation was not immediately clear, but Hale apparently wanted help getting rid of the body, WGNS reported.
Police arrived at Hale's home and found human remains on his property, Layne told the AP. Hale was arrested after police questioned him.
The victim, a white female, had been decapitated and the rest of her body was dismembered, according to the arrest warrant obtained by WGNS. Hale then buried the woman's torso in a burn pile at his home, according to police.
The suspect reportedly told police he also ate parts of the victim. An autopsy is to be performed in Nashville, the station reported.
Hale is currently being held on $1.5 million bond, Layne told the AP.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 16.
