Man arrested in another state after wife’s body found burned at home, authorities say

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A homicide suspect has been arrested in Louisiana after his wife’s burned remains were found at a home in Georgia.

Authorities said Kenneth Hardin Jr., 39, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Carrie Hardin, then burning her body and burying it in the backyard of their home in Fayetteville, Georgia, early Tuesday.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said Carrie Hardin was killed after an argument early that morning.

Fayette County investigators said Hardin told family members Wednesday morning that he was leaving town after he killed his wife in self-defense.

His father reportedly called 911 soon after the conversation.

Investigators responded to the home, where they discovered Carrie Hardin’s partially burned remains buried “under yard debris” in a shallow grave in the backyard.

The sheriff’s office said they tracked Kenneth’s car to Covington, Louisiana, and worked with the Louisiana State Patrol and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office to locate the vehicle.

His car was found at a motel. Hardin was apprehended by a SWAT team inside his room.

He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center and will be extradited to Fayette County.

The sheriff’s office has not said what Kenneth is charged with.

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