CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man accused of killing his wife and burning her corpse in Carter County pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Tuesday.

Brandon Carrier pleaded guilty in Carter County Criminal Court to the second-degree murder of Shannon Marie Isaacs in 2022. He had originally been charged with first-degree murder.

Carrier had also pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

News Channel 11 was in the courtroom on Tuesday as Carrier entered the guilty plea. He was sentenced to 37 years on the murder charge to be served concurrently with the abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence charges.

Carrier was scheduled to go to trial in April prior to pleading guilty.

Isaacs’ children and her brother had the opportunity to speak to Carrier and the court on Tuesday. Her loved ones, whom Judge Stacy Street noted have been at every court hearing, did not offer forgiveness and said Carrier had not appeared to show any remorse.

“Brandon, you took away the only person that held our family together, and now we’re in shambles,” Shawna Williams, Isaacs’ daughter, said from the stand through tears. “We’ll never be the same. My mom put everyone before herself. She loved fiercely. I’ll never experience a love even close to what she gave to us. You took away a beautiful soul, and I will never forgive you.”

Isaacs’ son Blake boldly told Carrier he would be waiting when Carrier is released from prison.

“I’ll be 59 years old when you get out. I ain’t going nowhere. You know that, right?” Blake Isaacs said from the stand. Isaacs had to be reprimanded by Judge Stacy Street for vulgar name-calling directed towards Carrier.

The victim’s brother, Shane Crowe, also testified. He was the one who found the burned vehicle containing Isaacs’ body.

“The most just punishment you could ever receive is to burn in hell for eternity. I’m glad this case has been resolved and come to an end so my sister can rest in peace. 37 years is not long enough when you deserve death,” Crowe told Carrier.

Assistant District Attorney General Dennis Brooks said the plea agreement saves the family from a long trial.

“It’s bittersweet today because, in reality, he’s guilty of first-degree murder. I want to convict him of that. But doing that produces a round of appeals and post-conviction hearings that this case never comes to rest for years,” Brooks told News Channel 11.

Carrier was arrested after Isaacs’ body was found burned inside a vehicle on Dry Branch Rd. on Aug. 23, 2022. She was 35 and the mother of five children. Her mother, Jackie, is now raising those children. She told News Channel 11 that she is relieved the case is over.

“I’m glad he got what he got,” said Jackie Shell. “He should have gotten more than what he did get, but at least maybe now Shannon can rest.”

In December, Carrier’s attorney had hoped to move him to the Unicoi County Jail due to Carrier’s claims of mistreatment at the Carter County Detention Center. A court spokesperson told News Channel 11 it’s not been decided yet where Carrier will serve his sentence.