07/06/2009

Associated Press

A 45-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in the strangling of an eastern Missouri woman who went missing last week.

Franklin County prosecutor Robert Parks on Monday charged Timothy Shults of Washington, Mo., in Friday morning's death of Union resident Deborah Marsch.

Authorities say the two were not acquainted.

A probable cause statement says Shults saw the 53-year-old Marsch sitting in a park in Union, walked up from behind and strangled her. Authorities say he then loaded the body in his truck and disposed of it.

Union Police Chief Norman Brune (BROO'-nee) said Shults confessed to the killing Sunday, then led police to a secluded, wooded area where they found the body.