Ace Antonio Pierre Belcher, 32, of Altoona, Alabama called called cops late Christmas Eve to report that he had found his girlfriend, Traci Melvin Wilemon, dead

Belcher initially told responding cops he had found Wilemon, 50, lifeless on the floor of their Altoona home

The unusual circumstance found at the scene however, led cops to call investigators from the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office

After hours of questioning he told cops that they had an argument that turned physical and led to her death

Deputies obtained a search warrant and processed the scene for hours early on Christmas Day before Belcher confessed to killing Wilemon and trying to burn her remains  

He was charged with murder and abuse of a corpse, because he admitted that he tried to burn her remains

An Alabama man has confessed to killing his girlfriend and trying to burn her remains on Christmas Eve, authorities said.
Ace Antonio Pierre Belcher, 32, called Altoona cops late Thursday to report that he had an argument with his girlfriend, Traci Melvin Wilemon, that turned physical and led to her death, the Gadsden Times reported.
Belcher initially told responding cops he found Wilemon, 50, lifeless on the floor of their Altoona home, but unusual circumstances at the scene led cops to call investigators from the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jonathan Horton said in a press release.
Investigators obtained a search warrant before midnight and worked into the early morning hours Christmas Day at the crime scene, along with Altoona police and the Etowah County coroner’s and district attorney’s offices.
Deputies processed the scene for hours early on Christmas Day before Belcher confessed to killing Wilemon and trying to burn her remains, sheriff officials said.
Investigators obtained a confession from Belcher, admitting that he had an argument with Wilemon that turned physical, and that led to her death.
Belcher, who was arrested early Friday, is facing charges of murder and abuse of a corpse because he admitted he tried to burn the body.
He is being held at the Etowah County Detention Center on surety bonds totaling $500,000.

Belcher’s list of prior brushes with the law includes a 2015 arrest for burglary, along with three others. Caught in the act, his three accomplices, two men and a woman, managed to get way while the homeowner’s boyfriend held Belcher at gun point until deputies arrived.
The other three suspects were arrested shortly after, when cops spotted their getaway vehicle.