An Augusta woman says she buried her mother in the back yard to keep authorities from taking her or cutting her during an autopsy.
Melissa Lockhart, 43, was charged Sunday with concealing a death, a felony, following Thursday’s discovery of a shallow grave with a woman’s body behind 1778 Tobacco Road. The body is believed to be the suspect’s mother, 67-year-old Miriam Lockhart.
Authorities were at the home because Melissa Lockhart had a broken right knee and needed hospitalization. “While on the scene, it was observed that there was possibly a recently dug grave in the backyard,” a sheriff’s report says.
The suspect said the body was her mother who had died in her bed last Monday or Tuesday.
“Melissa Lockhart advised that she did not want anyone to take Miriam Lockhart from her or to cut (perform an autopsy) on her, so she buried Miriam Lockhart in the backyard,” the report says.
Because of the nature of the burial, authorities sent the body to Decatur to the GBI Medical Examiners Officer for an autopsy to be performed and identification purposes.
In addition to concealing a death, the suspect was charged with probation violation and state court bench warrant.
Authorities are familiar with the home. Melissa Lockhart was charged in March with harassing phone calls. Also, deputies and EMS responded there for reports of a woman with breathing problems, according to a report from WJBF.
During that visit, Miriam Lockhart said she was afraid of her daughter Melissa and was afraid her daughter would hit or kill her. She also told authorities that she could barely move and had not left the residence in years. First responders did not find any physical injuries on either party during that visit, the TV station report.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com.
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