BAY CITY, MI — Inmate Pleads Guilty to Helping Killer Torch Mother of Five’s Body Behind Abandoned Schoolhouse
Nearly five years after the shocking discovery of a charred corpse behind an abandoned schoolhouse in Bay County, Michigan, a key figure in the disturbing case has officially admitted his role in helping conceal the brutal killing. On Monday, May 5, Aaron M. Wyse, a 47-year-old inmate already serving time, pleaded guilty to assisting in the disposal of the body of a murdered woman — a mother of five whose life was ended in a crime that shocked the Bay City community.
Wyse, shackled and escorted by prison guards, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran in a solemn courtroom proceeding that further unraveled the grim details of a case long etched into the region’s memory. The court heard how Wyse, who has previously testified against the woman who carried out the execution, played a critical role in hiding the body and setting it ablaze behind an abandoned school building.
The victim — whose identity is being withheld in some reports out of respect for her surviving children — was lured to her death, executed, and then transported to the deserted schoolhouse where her remains were torched in an effort to cover up the crime. The motive, though partially revealed in earlier proceedings, has been described by prosecutors as rooted in a personal vendetta that escalated into premeditated murder.
According to court records and Wyse’s own earlier testimony, the killer — a woman whose name has been previously reported and who is already serving a life sentence — shot the victim before enlisting Wyse’s help in disposing of the body. The pair then transported the corpse to the dilapidated schoolhouse grounds in Bay County, doused it with accelerant, and set it on fire.
Wyse, who is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, was not initially charged in connection with the homicide. However, his cooperation with law enforcement and eventual decision to testify against his co-conspirator proved instrumental in securing her conviction. In exchange for his testimony and eventual plea, prosecutors signaled they are unlikely to seek additional prison time — a fact that has prompted mixed reactions from members of the public and the victim’s family.
In court, Wyse appeared visibly aged, his scalp shaved and a thick, unkempt beard partially obscuring his expression. Shackled at the wrists and waist, he hunched forward, responding to Judge Sheeran’s questions in a low voice. Though he did not offer an emotional apology or explanation for his actions, his plea marks a significant legal milestone in a case that had long gone without full closure.
“This was a calculated and horrific attempt to erase evidence of a cold-blooded murder,” said a representative from the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office. “While Mr. Wyse’s cooperation was essential in bringing the principal perpetrator to justice, it does not absolve him of the moral gravity of what he participated in.”
The abandoned schoolhouse, which had long stood as a forgotten structure on the outskirts of Bay City, was thrust into the public eye following the gruesome discovery in late 2020. For many in the community, it has since become a somber reminder of the violence that took place there. Local leaders have since moved to condemn and secure the property.
Family members of the victim have called the latest court development “bittersweet,” expressing relief that some accountability has been achieved, but frustration that the person who helped destroy their loved one’s body will not face a stiffer penalty.
“She was a mother, a daughter, a sister — and she was treated like garbage, like her life meant nothing,” one relative said outside the courtroom. “We will never forget her, and we will never forgive what was done.”
The case has brought renewed attention to cold case procedures and the importance of witness cooperation in homicide investigations. Law enforcement officials credited dogged investigative work and community tips with helping bring the full story to light — even years after the initial crime.
As sentencing nears, Judge Sheeran will weigh the prosecution’s recommendation against the facts of Wyse’s involvement and his current incarceration. No final date has been set for sentencing, though legal experts say it’s unlikely Wyse will leave prison anytime soon.
In the meantime, a community continues to mourn, and a family continues to fight for the memory of a woman taken far too soon — her story now one more reminder of the enduring pain that violent crime inflicts on both individuals and the society around them.