Georgia man accused of killing his wife and burning her body arrested in Louisiana

FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia. – Kenneth Hardin Jr., accused of killing his wife and burning her body, was arrested in Louisiana on Wednesday. He is currently awaiting extradition to Georgia to face charges in the killing of his wife, Carrie Hardin.

Carrie Hardin's body, which bore gunshot wounds, was discovered Wednesday in a shallow grave behind the couple's home on Merlin Court in Fayetteville. Her remains were partially burned and buried under yard debris, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

Authorities began their investigation after Kenneth Hardin allegedly confessed to family members that “he killed his wife in self-defense, burned her body, and was leaving town.” Hardin's father reported the confession to authorities, and officers searched the property and found her remains.

Fayette County officials tracked Kenneth Hardin to a motel in Covington, Louisiana. With assistance from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana State Patrol, Hardin was arrested by a SWAT team in his motel room. He was being held as a fugitive defendant at the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center late Thursday night.

Fayette County investigators are currently in Louisiana to further question the suspect and prepare for his extradition to Georgia.