A son, who was once cherished by his mother without conditions, committed a heinous act by murdering her on Mother’s Day.

Following the murder, the son dismembered his mother’s body and attempted to conceal the crime by setting it on fire.

Authorities in Hartford, Alabama, were alerted to a burnt-out vehicle near a river just two days after Mother’s Day in 2019. Upon inspection, human remains were discovered inside the nearly destroyed car, identified as those of Penny Wilson Newton, a 56-year-old woman and the mother of the accused, 36-year-old Chad Brogdon.

During the trial, friends of Penny described her as a beloved individual who lived life joyfully, only to have it abruptly taken away from her.

The suspect was spotted exiting a wooded area near an elderly couple’s residence on the same day the burnt vehicle was reported. He claimed to have been assaulted and left without his truck in that location.

Law enforcement identified Brogdon as a person of interest after observing burns on his body, the smell of smoke on his clothes, and boots with matching prints to those found at the crime scene.

Upon searching his residence, authorities found a removed carpet and rope consistent with evidence from the crime scene, along with traces of blood in his freezers.

Brogdon was later charged with murder and abuse of a corpse, with the belief that he killed his mother on Mother’s Day, disposed of her body in a vehicle, and set it ablaze to destroy evidence.

In 2022, Brogdon was convicted of his mother’s murder and sentenced to life in prison. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, leaving his motive for the brutal act unclear.

The prosecution confidently pointed to Brogdon as the perpetrator, leading the jury to unanimously find him guilty after just one hour of deliberation.

According to an obituary website, Penny Newton, originally from Pelham, Alabama, passed away and was survived by her loved ones.