A St. Charles, Missouri man, who shot his uncle and then later burned his body on the farm, has received a 15-year sentence after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors Monday. Nicholas G. Preli, 27, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter armed criminal action and tampering with evidence.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Preli shot fifth generation farmer Paul B. Fischer with a pistol after his uncle complained about ruts in the gravel driveway Preli had made on an ATV. Preli then hid Fischer’s body between two farm implements. Twelve hours later he returned and burned his uncle’s body in a woodpile across the street from the farm.
Fischer had retired after 30 plus years with the St. Charles Street Department and then took over farming at Fischer Family Farm.
His obituary said “he had many friends who he would do anything for and was totally devoted to carrying on the family’s farming business. He continued his father’s tradition of putting in a large garden with the best sweet corn and 100 tomato plants.”
