Authorites believe remains found in Cherokee county that of handyman

Terry Lee McKinney

Authorities say that Remains found in Cherokee County over the weekend are believed to be that of a missing handyman, and investigators say he was dismembered in one of the most brutal killings they've seen.

63 year old Terry Lee McKinney,  is charged with murder in the case. Sheriff Jeff Shaver said investigators searched McKinney's house Sunday, and carried out another search warrant at the suspect's home yesterday.

A resident called the sheriff's office Sunday to report the discovery of human remains. Lawmen searched along the roadside of County Road 82, and found additional remains. The coroner, Jeremy Deaton, has sent the remains to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for DNA identification.

McKinney, who uses a wheelchair, has been in custody since Sunday. Shaver said the victim was last seen alive on Monday, March 23. His family reported him missing on Friday, March 27.

The sheriff said The victim is believed to be a handyman who did work for McKinney. He said he couldn't elaborate on a possible motive in the case, or give details about the state of the remains when they were found.

The case remains under investigation by the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit, which is made up of investigators with the sheriff's office, Cedar Bluff Police, Leesburg Police, Centre Police and the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office. The Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Science Team also helped in the investigation.