A Wisconsin man accused of murdering his wife allegedly told people she died of cancer before giving her wedding ring to a new girlfriend he met on Tinder, and investigators still have not found her body.
Aaron Nelson, 43, was arrested last Friday and charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in connection with the disappearance of his wife, 42-year-old Alexis Nelson.
Authorities say Alexis vanished earlier this year after the couple was last seen together on surveillance footage from a Kwik Trip convenience store on March 28.
Her family later reported her missing after not hearing from her for months.
Neighbor Carrie Peaine said the arrest brought little relief because Alexis still has not been recovered.
“I still, I wish he would just tell ’em where her body is,” Peaine told WITI-TV News. “What he did with her at least, you know. The family needs it.”
According to prosecutors, investigators uncovered a disturbing trail of evidence in the weeks after Alexis disappeared.
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Court records allege Aaron purchased a 32-gallon trash can one day after the couple was last seen together.
Authorities later executed a search warrant at the home of Aaron’s new girlfriend, whom he allegedly met on Tinder shortly after Alexis vanished. Investigators said they found the same container there.
According to prosecutors, the bucket tested positive for Alexis’ blood and also contained evidence consistent with human decomposition.
Cadaver dogs later alerted to the possible scent of human remains.
Police also accused Aaron of giving conflicting stories about what happened to his wife.
According to the criminal complaint, he allegedly told some people Alexis died from cancer while telling others she died because of alcohol abuse.
Authorities said he later created a new Facebook account under the name “James Nelson” and changed his relationship status to “widowed.”
Investigators also interviewed the woman Aaron had reportedly started dating after Alexis disappeared.
Detectives noticed she was wearing an engagement ring that was later identified as Alexis’ wedding ring, according to court records.
Despite the arrest, Alexis’ body still has not been found.
Aaron appeared in Dodge County Court Saturday, where a judge set his bond at $1 million cash.
“The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that this investigation has been difficult for Alexis Nelson’s family and many within the community,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“Because this matter is now before the court, and out of respect for the family, the judicial process, and the continued integrity of the investigation, no further details or comments will be released by law enforcement at this time.”
Elsewhere in Arizona, prosecutors say a man smoked a cigar while watching his teenage daughter desperately try to save her mother after a fatal shooting outside the family’s gated community home.
Robert Marin, 60, is accused of killing his wife, Heather Marin, 50, outside their Waddell home in March.
Authorities said the couple had been separated and were going through a divorce.
According to prosecutors, the couple’s 17-year-old daughter heard her mother begging for her life moments before the shooting.
“Please don’t kill me, please don’t kill me,” Heather allegedly pleaded, according to court records.
Police said the teenager attempted CPR while her father walked away and lit a cigar.
The daughter allegedly screamed at him, “Why would you do this?”
Authorities arrested Marin at the home. Police said he had blood on his clothing and smelled strongly of alcohol.
Marin now faces charges including first-degree murder, domestic violence and tampering with evidence.
Heather’s brother, Aaron Cooley, later urged a judge not to reduce Marin’s bond.
“He is a danger to my family, me, maybe the rest of the family,” Cooley alleged.
Cooley also claimed his sister had been dealing with abuse issues for years.
“There was a history of abuse dating back over a decade,” he said.
According to prosecutors, investigators uncovered evidence of previous unreported domestic violence incidents and threatening messages allegedly sent by Marin.
Meanwhile in Oklahoma, a man charged with killing his wife during an argument eventually admitted investigators had been lied to from the beginning.
Clifton Hampton was arrested after arriving at a hospital with his wife Christina’s body wrapped inside a mattress pad.
Authorities said Hampton initially claimed he found Christina collapsed after she wandered away.
Investigators quickly challenged the story. “He shows up with an explanation of her death that is far from the truth,” Walton said.
“Husband shows up at Craig County hospital, his wife deceased, and she’s wrapped in a mattress pad.”
“He immediately has a story, but we immediately knocked holes in that story.”
“We were certain that this was actually a homicide.”
According to court records, Hampton changed his account multiple times before eventually confessing.
Investigators said the couple had argued about divorce before Hampton became enraged after Christina allegedly called him “pathetic.”
Authorities said Hampton later admitted he strangled his wife.
“When you see the ripple effect of a moment of anger, uncontrolled, a life’s lost, others are so drastically affected,” Walton said.
“I think their marriage was struggling.”
“He obviously didn’t possess the ability to walk away from an argument before it ruined a lot of people’s lives.”
Hampton ultimately pleaded guilty on April 30.
“This was such a horrible crime,” District Attorney Matt Ballard told Oxygen.com.
“Christina Hampton was an absolute cherished member of the community.”
