N.C. mom and son charged months after son admits that he buried body in his backyard

CONOVER, N.C. (TCD) -- A mother and son were indicted by a grand jury for reportedly burying a man’s body in their backyard after he overdosed on meth.

According to the Hickory Daily Record, Conover Police arrested 28-year-old Robert Pippin and his 53-year-old mother, Emily Pippin, for concealment of a corpse. Robert was being held on a $10,000 bond while his mother’s was set at $1,000.

In August 2021, Richard Lee Morris’ family reported him missing after not hearing from him for several months, the Hickory Daily Record reports. Morris' body was eventually found in the Pippins' backyard on Fourth Avenue SW, and Robert told authorities Morris died from a lethal amount of meth that he took in the basement of their home.

Then, in September 2022, Robert told Catawba County investigators that he had been taking money out of Morris’ disability account. He led officials to Morris body, which they located buried in the yard.

Robert reportedly admitted to a WSOC-TV in October reporter that he "regretted" burying Morris at his home.

MORE:

• Man, mother charged in Conover case of body buried in backyard - Hickory Daily Record
• Search warrant: Conover man said he buried body following overdose death at his home, 10/14/2022 - Hickory Daily Record
• Man tells Channel 9 he regrets burying body in shallow grave behind home, 10/13/2022 - WSOC