Accused Husband Killer Hired Help To Dig Grave

No one even knew Daniel Hocutt, 58, was missing until his wife went to police and told them she killed him, according to an investigator who testified during Sandra Waters Hocutt's preliminary hearing Wednesday morning.

Sandra Hocutt is accused of shooting her husband in the stomach while he slept, then burying his body in the backyard of the home the couple shared on Vaughn Dr. in Mobile.

The investigator told the judge Sandra Hocutt confessed to murder on May 19 and lead police to the homemade grave. Forensic scientists and archaeologist exhumed the body, which detectives believe was buried for three years.

Assistant District Attorney Jill Phillips says during Hocutt's confession, she told police she didn't work alone. She hired a crew from Labor Finders to come to her house and dig the hole, though prosecutors do not believe the crew knew they were helping hide a body.

"She placed the body in visqueen and dragged it into the hole after Labor Finders had left," said Phillips. "Then, she said she called them the next day to have them come fill the hole back in."

Sandra Hocutt's case will now be heard by a Grand Jury, who will decide whether to indict her for murder. She pleaded not guilty in June and is out of jail on bond.