An Alabama man is facing serious charges after allegedly being paid to commit murder and subsequently concealing the crime by burying the victim’s body inside a pickup truck, which he then set ablaze. The horrific act was reportedly carried out using a backhoe to dig the grave.
A Bibb County grand jury has formally indicted 57-year-old John Collum on multiple charges, including murder for hire, hindering prosecution, and abuse of a corpse. The indictment details the grave charges against Collum, highlighting the severity of the alleged crime.
The indictment also implicates two other individuals accused of assisting Collum in burying the victim, Oscar de Santiago Soto, within his truck. The vehicle was subsequently set on fire and covered with dirt using the backhoe, according to the allegations.
According to a report from the Shelby County Reporter, Soto was last seen on June 18 in Montevallo. His remains were discovered 10 days later, inside his charred Ford Ranger, less than a mile from the location where the truck was last spotted.
Earlier this year, Collum faced charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution. However, in September, the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office escalated the charges to include murder for hire, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Court documents reveal that Collum received a payment in “US Currency” for the alleged crime, although the exact amount remains unspecified. Additionally, the documents do not disclose information on who might have financed the murder, leaving this aspect of the case shrouded in mystery.
One of the two people named in Collum’s indictment as assisting him with Soto’s burial in reportedly in federal custody, but it’s not clear if that person has been charged in connection with Soto’s murder.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says that more arrests may be forthcoming.
Collum has pleaded not guilty.
