Georgia man claimed his mother was abducted by aliens, then prosecutors showed her burned body in his yard

A Georgia man who told police his mother had been abducted by aliens will spend 10 years in prison after prosecutors presented evidence that he burned her remains in their backyard. Jason Christopher Campbell, 35, was found guilty of concealing a death following a five-day trial, according to Now Georgia.

The case began on January 6, 2025, when 62-year-old Marie Campbell was reported missing. Her belongings were found at the Homer, Georgia, home where she lived with her son, raising questions about her whereabouts.

Two days later, Jason Campbell contacted police and said his mother had apparently been picked up three days earlier by someone he did not know. He claimed he had not heard from her since. However, that was not the only explanation he gave authorities for her disappearance.

Police discover burned remains in backyard

According to an incident report obtained by the outlet, Campbell had called 911 on January 7 and told dispatchers that his mother had been “abducted by aliens.” Officers subsequently went to the family’s home and searched the property, including the backyard.

During the search, officers found a fire burning outside, along with a burned mattress and human remains. Investigators also noticed a vehicle with one seat either missing or folded down. The remains were later identified as those of Marie Campbell.

Prosecutors argued that he had burned his mother’s body to conceal her death. However, authorities did not disclose a cause or manner of death, and Campbell was not charged with causing his mother’s death.

His conviction was specifically for concealing a death, rather than murder or another offense involving causing her death. After the five-day trial, a jury found him guilty, and the judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The distinction matters because evidence that someone concealed a body does not automatically prove that the same person caused the death. In this case, the jury’s verdict addressed Campbell’s handling of his mother’s remains, while the circumstances surrounding her death remained unresolved in the information made public.

Georgia law specifically makes concealing another person’s death a felony when someone hides the death in a way that hinders investigators from determining whether the person was unlawfully killed. Under Georgia Code § 16-10-31, the offense carries a prison sentence of one to 10 years, a fine ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, or both, as stated by Justia U.S. Law.

As mentioned by Thomson Reuters Westlaw, the law also makes it an offense to knowingly obstruct or hinder police officers carrying out their duties. Under Georgia Code § 16-10-24, the penalty depends on the nature of the obstruction and whether it involves violence. However, it remains unclear whether Jason Campbell intentionally tried to hinder the officers from investigating.