Cody Waggoner
A man charged in the murder of 23-year-old Bradley Aaron Powell was released on bond in Marion County on Wednesday.
Cody Waggoner made a $150,000 bond, court officials said.
His murder trial is set for next Feb. 19.
Family members of the victim said in a Facebook posting they were told by the district attorney "there was no way in hell" that Waggoner would be released. The poster said the DA's office in Marion County has not been answering calls from the family and gave no warning about the release.
A Marion County Grand Jury in August 2017 indicted Waggoner in the murder of the Chattanooga man whose body had been found in a shallow grave in Walker County in 2016.
The body was located near the top of Nickajack Road on Lookout Mountain.
The victim was reported missing by his family in December 2016. Afterward, the TBI began an investigation.
The body was discovered in February 2017.
Authorities said they found evidence that the murder was carried out by Waggoner in Marion County so the charge was filed there.