Freezer hidden underground contained body of man missing for months, TN deputies say

The body of a man who was missing for nearly four months was found inside a freezer buried underground, Tennessee authorities said.

Now, 46-year-old Joey Lee Guinn faces charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release May 16.

His attorney information is not available in case records.

Investigators had been searching for clues related to the disappearance of 64-year-old Edward Elliott, who hadn’t been seen since late January or early February and was reported missing by family March 31, deputies said.

The sheriff’s office asked the public for help locating Elliott, who had a medical condition that may make it difficult for him to return without assistance, according to the missing person report.

He was last known to be in the rural area of Roan Mountain, family said.

An anonymous tip led investigators to search Guinn’s home and nearby properties on May 15, the sheriff’s office said.

A cadaver dog indicated human remains were on the property, and investigators brought out a metal detector, according to deputies.

As they scanned the area, the detector alerted the officers to a metal object underground, deputies said.

Investigators said they started digging and found a large freezer.

“When the freezer was opened, investigators discovered it contained human remains believed to be those of Mr. Elliott,” deputies said.

Guinn was arrested that day and booked in Carter County jail on $5 million bond, according to officials.

“I am extremely proud of my officers for their diligence in investigating the disappearance of Mr. Elliott, Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said in the release. “And I hope his family can find comfort in finally knowing what happened to their loved one and that the person responsible is being held accountable for their actions.”

The sheriff’s department was unable to tell McClatchy News the relationship between the two men or a motive.

The investigation is ongoing.

Carter County is in northeast Tennessee on the border of North Carolina, about a 140-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.

This story was originally published May 16, 2024 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Freezer hidden underground contained body of man missing for months, TN deputies say."