By AMALIA KORTRIGHT / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A second suspect was recently taken into custody in connection with the homicide of 27-year-old Melissa Ann Cleckler of Clanton.

Allen Dion Jones, 44, who lists an address on Chilton County 153 in Jemison, was arrested by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and charged with abuse of a corpse on Tuesday, Nov. 5, after he allegedly disposed of Cleckler’s remains.

According to his arrest warrant, Jones “knowingly treated (Cleckler’s) corpse in a way that outraged ordinary family sensibilities” by removing the body from a house and transporting the body by vehicle to Egg and Butter Road outside of Columbiana, where the body was left. According to the warrant, Cleckler’s body was left on the side of the road between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21.

The bond recommendation for Jones stated that Jones has a substantial criminal record, including a cocaine trafficking conviction and a conviction for unlawful possession of marijuana in the second degree.

The first suspect, 42-year-old Anthony Scott Germany, was arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse by the SCSO on Friday, Dec. 1. His arrest warrants allege that he also transported Cleckler’s body and abandoned her remains on Egg and Butter Road.

Cleckler’s remains were initially found in a remote area on Egg and Butter Road near Oak Drive on Thursday, Nov. 2. After an autopsy was performed, investigators discovered Cleckler’s identity and ruled her death a homicide.

The SCSO and CrimeStoppers of Metro Alabama later offered a monetary reward of up to $10,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect.

Corpse abuse is considered a Class C felony. If convicted, Jones and Germany could face up to 10 years in prison.

As of Wednesday, Dec. 6, both Jones and Germany were being held at the Shelby County Jail, each on bonds totaling $250,000. Their cases were assigned to Shelby County District Court Judge Daniel A. Croswon Jr. A preliminary hearing date for Jones has not been scheduled. Germany is set to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2018.

Court documents stated that the investigation of Cleckler’s murder is currently ongoing. Anyone with additional information about the Cleckler case is encouraged to contact the SCSO by calling its main line at 669-4181, its secret witness line at 669-9116 or Investigator Jessie Woodard directly at 670-6283. CrimeStoppers also encouraged anyone with more information to call 254-7777.