A Butler man offered a disturbing confession in connection with the death of Melissa Barto, a young mother who investigators say was shot in the head by her boyfriend, authorities said.

James E. Howard-George, 23, admitted Monday that he aided accused killer Ishemer Ramsey in concealing key evidence in the investigation, according to state police.

He also helped Ramsey, 21, of Lyndora in disposing of Barto's body. Investigators suspect Barto was killed Thursday.

Howard-George later accompanied Ramsey as they drove out of Butler County into Lawrence County.

“Once there,” court documents said, “Howard-George attempted to dispose of the victim's body by using lighter fluid and a lighter.”

Authorities about 7 p.m. Monday found the badly burned remains of a body believed to be Barto.

“It was a pretty horrific scene,” Trooper James Long said this morning. He declined to elaborate on the findings, citing deference to Barto's family.

The remains turned up in a secluded, rural section of Neshannock Township in northern Lawrence County, police said.

“Clothing and accessories” belonging to Barto helped investigators in the preliminary identification.

An autopsy was expected to be conducted today at the Heritage Valley Health System in Beaver County to confirm the findings.

Police arrested Howard-George this morning after taking him into custody at his home.

District Judge Wayne Seibel later arraigned him on a felony charge of conspiracy to commit homicide and misdemeanor charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

He joined Ramsey in the Butler County Prison following arraignment.

Ramsey is charged with homicide and tampering with physical evidence.

Both defendants are being held without bail.

Howard-George's initial interview with investigators Saturday helped police make its case against Ramsey, authorities said.

Police Lt. Eric Hermick said Howard-George was one of at least three people who claim Ramsey admitted killing Barto.

Howard-George recounted that Ramsey told him he shot Barto three times in the head.

“Ramsey believed she was cheating,” according to a police affidavit, “and stated that he wanted her gone.”

Police suspect Ramsey shot his girlfriend with a .45-caliber pistol during an argument in the defendant's car.

When he was detained Saturday evening following a traffic stop in Connoquenessing Township, police said, he was armed with a 1911-style .45-caliber pistol in a drop holster.

Howard-George, during his alleged confession, acknowledged that he had prior conversations with Ramsey “about how Ramsey wanted to kill Melissa Barto,” the affidavit said.

Howard-George told police that after the suspected shooting, he got laundry detergent and bleach from his house to clean Ramsey's car at a Route 356 car wash in Butler Township.

The two men drove to the Walmart nearby and bought a tarp, rope and gloves to help dispose of Barto's body.

Barto's family reported her missing Friday after she failed to show up for her 6-year-old daughter's kindergarten graduation a day earlier.