LIVINGSTON, TN – A Tennessee man is facing murder charges after authorities discovered the remains of his girlfriend inside a refrigerator that had been set on fire and left on a rural roadside.

Edward Randolph, 49, was arrested last week in connection with the death of 47-year-old Hope Parrott, according to officials. Randolph is charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse following an investigation led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Overton County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities began their inquiry early on July 31, following a 911 call from a woman who reported a fire off Sunk Cane Road, a remote area approximately 100 miles east of Nashville. Responding deputies found the smoldering appliance at the base of an embankment visible from the roadway.

Upon opening the burned refrigerator, investigators discovered human remains inside. The victim was later identified as Parrott, who had recently been reported missing by her family earlier in July.

Family members told investigators they had grown concerned after being unable to contact Parrott for several days, describing her disappearance as highly unusual. Relatives indicated that Parrott had been attempting to leave her relationship with Randolph prior to her death.

Detectives from the Overton County Sheriff’s Office and TBI worked together to piece together the circumstances. Chemical analyses and forensic work led authorities to link Randolph to the crime, stating that he killed Parrott, placed her body in the refrigerator, and then set it ablaze in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence.

The cause of Parrott’s death has not yet been officially released by investigators. The motive behind the killing is still under investigation, according to officials involved in the case.

Randolph was apprehended without incident and booked into the Overton County Jail. As of Friday morning, he remained in custody without bond.

Local authorities say this case has greatly impacted the small rural community, as neighbors and family members await further answers. The investigation into Hope Parrott’s death remains active, and officials have not released additional details about the timeline or the evidence leading directly to Randolph’s arrest.

Court dates for Randolph have not yet been announced, and no legal representation for him has been named at this time.

The sheriff’s office and the TBI are asking anyone with information regarding the case to come forward as the inquiry continues.