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Brandon Carrier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence Tuesday, and was sentenced to 37 years in prison in Carter County Criminal Court.

Carrier is charged with murdering his wife, Shannon Marie Isaacs, 35, in August 2022 when her remains were found burned inside a vehicle.

Carrier, 40, was indicted for the murder of his wife by a Carter County Grand Jury in November 2022. He at that time was also charged with abuse of a corpse, setting fire to personal property, and two counts of tampering with evidence.

The investigation into Ms. Isaacs’ death began on the evening of August 23, 2022, when she was reported missing to officers of the Elizabethton Police Department after failing to pick her children up from school and family members were not able to locate her at her home. CCSD deputies later responded to a report of a vehicle fire at a residence at Carrier’s residence on Dry Branch Road. When officers arrived on scene, they located a vehicle that had been destroyed by a fire. The remains of Ms. Isaacs were located inside the vehicle.

Carrier was developed as a suspect early in the investigation. On September 20, officers located Carrier and arrested him on an outstanding warrant, and he has been held in the Carter County Detention Center since that date.

In addition to Carrier’s plea to second-degree murder, he also pled guilty to abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, which will be served concurrent with the murder sentence.

Carrier had been scheduled for trial in April.

Judge Street noted at the hearing Monday that Shannon Isaac’s family had been present at every court hearing. Among family members speaking at the hearing were Isaacs’ brother, daughter and son.

Mrs. Isaacs was the mother of five children, who are now being raised by her mother, Jackie.

Carrier was represented in court by Atty. Casey A. Sears II and was sentenced by Judge Stacy Street.