A Georgia man killed his grandmother by packing her in a freezer after a non-fatal injury — before telling investigators how much she loved him, local police said.
Floyd County Police late Thursday discovered the body of Doris Cumming, 82, in the northwest Georgia home where she lived with her grandson, Robert Keith Tincher III.
For the grisly alleged crime, Tincher, 28, was charged with murder, aggravated battery and concealing the death.
He is in police custody in Rome, about 10 miles south of his home in Armuchee.
Police said Cumming’s family thought she had moved out of the Peach State, but became worried after not hearing from her and reported she might be missing.
Police said they believe that Cumming was injured in a fall in December, and that rather than seeking medical attention, Tincher dragged her through the home.
“From what we determined, at the time, he believed she was still breathing and had some movement at the time she was going into the freezer,” Floyd County Investigator Brittany Werner told Fox affiliate WAGA-TV.
Tincher “heard and saw numerous bones break,” according to criminal charges. He then allegedly wrapped her in plastic bags and stuffed her in a large freezer.
The charges say Tincher “acknowledged her back broke going into the freezer.” There was “no altercation or provocation” leading up to the acts, according to the charges.
Tincher continued living in the home with the body inside the freezer for months, but moved it to a storage unit in March, fearing Cumming’s body might be found.
Werner said Tincher told cops he didn’t call 911 because he was wanted for arrest because of terroristic threats made in 2018 against his wife.
In a bizarre twist, Tincher also told investigators how much he loved his grandmother.
“He said she was the only family member that gave him the courtesy and love and attention he needed,” said Werner.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is performing an autopsy to determine Cumming’s cause of death and when exactly it happened.
