Alabama Man Indicted for Murder-for-Hire After Victim and His Ford Ranger Were Burned and Buried Together in a Backhoe-Dug Pit, Prosecutors Say
BIBB COUNTY, ALABAMA — A 57-year-old Alabama man has been indicted on capital murder-for-hire charges after prosecutors say he helped kill a man, burn his body along with his pickup truck, and bury both together in a massive hole dug with a backhoe. John Wesley Collum, accused of killing 36-year-old Oscar De Santiago Soto for money, now faces multiple felony counts including abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Prosecutors: Victim and Truck Burned and Buried “In a Hole … With a Backhoe”
According to charging documents obtained by WVTM, Collum and at least two unnamed accomplices participated in the killing earlier this year. Prosecutors say the men placed Soto’s body and his 1998 Ford Ranger together in a deep pit, set them on fire, and then buried them using heavy machinery.
Court records state:
“Collum did intentionally cause the death of [Soto] … [and] knowingly and willfully abuse the corpse.”
The motive, according to prosecutors, was pecuniary gain — meaning Collum was allegedly paid to help commit the murder.
Search for Missing Man Led to Grim Discovery
Soto disappeared on June 18, prompting a multi-agency search involving Montevallo police, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, and federal authorities. Photos of Soto and his truck were circulated widely as investigators tried to locate him.
His remains were found less than a mile from where his vehicle was last seen, in the 2000 block of Randolph Road, according to The Tuscaloosa Thread. Prosecutors believe the burial and burning occurred sometime between June 18 and June 27.
More Arrests Expected
Authorities say at least one additional suspect has been taken into custody, though prosecutors have not said whether that individual has been formally charged. Investigators expect more details to emerge as the case progresses.
Collum Faces Multiple Felonies, Pleads Not Guilty
Collum has been indicted on:
- Capital murder for pecuniary gain
- Hindering prosecution
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with physical evidence
He is currently being held in the Bibb County Jail with no bond, and his trial is scheduled for September 2026. Collum has entered a plea of not guilty.
Community Shocked by Brutality of Case
The nature of the killing — involving burning, burial with machinery, and alleged payment — has drawn widespread attention in central Alabama, with prosecutors calling it one of the more disturbing homicide cases seen in recent years.
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