Caleb Cannon, the man charged with the murder of missing mother Nikki Burgess, appeared in court Thursday.

Cannon’s former cellmate said in court that Cannon told him he beat and strangled Burgess, a Crossville native, before taking her body to Knoxville for disposal.

He also said people were asking Cannon if he killed Burgess.

Cannon allegedly admitted to murdering her and said he had weekend custody of the son he shared with Burgess.

The cellmate said Cannon went to Burgess’ home on a Friday where the two argued about alimony and custody.

Cannon, according to the cellmate, said he took Burgess to her bedroom, beat her with brass knuckles and strangled her.

He then put her in the bathroom and later took her body to a Knoxville farm where he used to work and used some sort of meat grinder to dispose of her body.

The cellmate, who was housed with Cannon for two and a half months, also said the two did heroin together in jail.

Thursday’s hearing lasted nearly four hours and was continued to Aug. 23.

Cannon was taken into police custody in Nashville in October 2015 at juvenile court where he was supposed to attend a custody hearing.

Burgess, 36, has not been seen or heard from since she was reported missing by a friend on May 25, 2014.