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Suspect in Coffee County cannibalism case pleads guilty

Gregory Scott Hale
Gregory Scott Hale Gregory Scott Hale
photo Gregory Scott Hale allegedly killed and dismembered a woman near the Bledsoe County, Tenn., home he lived in on Pete Sain Road near Manchester, Tenn.
photo Gregory Scott Hale

The man accused in the June 2014 killing and cannibalization of a Sequatchie Valley woman will spend the rest of his life behind bars following a plea today in Coffee County Circuit Court.

Gregory Scott Hale was charged first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse after the body of 36-year-old Lisa Marie Hyder was found at a home in Summitville, Tenn., in eastern Coffee County.

Hale pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole, according to court officials.

Hyder was said at the time to have been staying with friends in Coffee County when a chance meeting between her and Hale happened at a store in Manchester, Tenn.

Affidavits filed in Coffee County General Sessions Court last June describe grisly details.

“After murdering the victim, [Hale] beheaded her and cut off her hands, placing them in another bucket, and buried the victim’s torso in a burn pile at the residence,” the affidavits state. “[Hale] also admitted to eating part of the victim after murdering her.”

Court officials said Hale was returned to his cell after the hearing Thursday.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.comor twitter.com/BenBenton orwww.facebook.com/ben.benton1or 423-757-6569.