A Jefferson County woman has been indicted for murder in the 2022 shooting death of a California man whose body was found in a fresh grave in Mount Olive.

Christal Elaine Skelton, 40, was initially charged nearly two years ago with abuse of corpse in the death of 31-year-old Zachery Steed Coats.

A Jefferson County grand jury this month added the murder charge, according to court records made public Monday.

William Vaughan McKnight, 63, was already charged and indicted on murder and abuse of corpse charges.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 10:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, to the 3000 block of Raceway Parkway in Mount Olive on a welfare check after family members of Coats had not heard from in months.

Deputies knocked on the door but there was no answer. They then discovered the fresh grave on the property.

A specially trained cadaver dog was brought to the scene and indicated the presence of human remains.

Investigators obtained a search warrant, opened the grave, and found what appeared to be a body. The remains were exhumed.

Charging documents state the pair fatally shot Coats on Sept. 30, and then buried the body.

McKnight is out of jail on bonds totaling $400,000.

Skelton was booked back into the Jefferson County Jail Friday on the new murder charge.  She remains held without bond.

Trial dates have not yet been set for either suspect.