A Georgia man who told police his missing mother had been "abducted by aliens" has been jailed for ten years after her charred remains were found in the garden of the home they shared.
Jason Christopher Campbell, 35, was convicted of concealing the death of 65-year-old Marie Campbell. Her body was found burned in the backyard of the property in Homer, Georgia, about 75 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Disappearance and False Claims
Marie Campbell vanished on January 6, leaving behind her handbag, car, identification and mobile phone. The disappearance prompted a local search by neighbours and relatives, according to local news outlet Now Georgia.
Two days later, Campbell told investigators that a mysterious stranger had picked his mother up from the property and that he had not heard from her since. However, officers later discovered that 24 hours earlier, Campbell had called 911 to claim she had been "abducted by aliens."
Discovery of Remains
The claim triggered a search of the family's land, where police found Marie's charred remains in the backyard near a smouldering fire and a burnt-out mattress. Officers also found a vehicle on site with a seat folded down or removed, covered by a mud-stained sheet.
An autopsy confirmed the remains belonged to Marie, and Campbell was formally charged the following month. Authorities have not revealed how Marie died, and Campbell was never accused of causing her death.
Conviction and Sentencing
Under local laws, hiding a body is treated as a felony if it prevents investigators from determining whether foul play was involved. Following a five-day trial brought by Banks County prosecutors, Campbell was convicted of concealing a death. Judge Albert Collier sentenced him to the maximum ten-year prison term, Now Georgia reports.
