LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. – Prosecutors charge a second person for the murder of Coy A. Cole, after human remains were found in a burn pile at a home outside Miller, Missouri. Cole was reported missing by family on December 1, 2019, saying they last saw him on November 18.

While looking into Cole’s disappearance, investigators say Matthew D. Abney was seen on surveillance videos using Cole’s debt card, without Cole present.

Authorities arrested Matthew Abney in Newton County in December and on January 6, 2020, officials filed the following charges against him:

Murder 1st degree

Robbery 1st degree

Assault 1st degree

Assualt 1st degree

Armed Criminal Action

Armed Criminal Action

Tampering With A Witness In A Felony Prosecution

Tampering With Physical Evidence In Felony Prosecution

Abandonment Of A Corpse

Tampering With Physical Evidence In Felony Prosecution

Co-defendant in the case, Raymond Fryling, was charged in early December with first degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

Court documents state a female witness was with Abney and Frying on November 19, the day of the alleged crime.

The female told authorities that Abney had placed herself and Cole in the middle of the living room floor on their knees at a home at 17868 Lawrence 2059, where Cole lived.

The female says Abney shot Cole in the arm and shot at her, but missed, according to court documents (Affidavit-in-Matthew-Abney-case).

Documents state that later that day, the witness stated that Abney came into the home and shot several times, with her “hearing Mr. Cole saying “NO Matt.” The female says she saw Cole dead in his chair in the living room.

Abney and Fryling were allegedly at the home that day talking about removing a bullet from the wall that had been shot into Cole’s arm.

The two suspects allegedly wrapped Cole’s body up in a shower curtain and took it to Fryling’s property, 23503 Lawrence 1150. Cole’s body, along with the chair, was allegedly unloaded and burned.

In court documents filed in Fryling’s arrest, it’s claimed that Fryling had shot Cole.

On December 9, 2019, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Fryling’s home and found a fresh burn pile, human remains and parts to a tan chair.