Fayette County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Wife’s Murder

Kenneth Hardin Jr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on June 23, 2025, for the brutal murder of his wife, Carrie Hardin. Her body was found burned and buried in the backyard of the couple’s home.

The horrific case began to unfold last August when Hardin fled Georgia after confessing to his father that he had killed his wife. His father immediately reported the confession to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, triggering a multi-state manhunt.

Investigators later discovered Carrie Hardin’s burned remains in a shallow grave behind the family’s home. This grim discovery happened almost at the same time as Kenneth Hardin Jr.’s arrest in Covington, Louisiana, where he had checked into a motel.

Kenneth Hardin Jr. pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including Felony Murder, which resulted in his life sentence without parole. He also received a 10-year sentence for Concealing the Death of Another, to be served at the same time as his life sentence. Additionally, he was given an extra 5-year consecutive sentence for Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.