Alabama Mechanic Accused of Murdering Mom Who Entered Auto Shop

An Alabama mother who vanished over the weekend while reportedly searching for a vehicle to buy for her son was allegedly murdered by a mechanic at an auto body shop she visited.

After days of searching for Michelle Whitaker Hough, 54, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that her body had been found. Her remains were found in Hatchechubbee, about 20 miles from where she was last seen in Seale, WSFA 12 reported, citing a local prosecutor.

Just hours before the grim discovery of Hough’s body, authorities revealed that she was presumed dead after her vehicle was found torched late Sunday. Investigators were able to determine from Hough’s last cell-phone pings that she’d been in the vicinity of an auto body shop in Phenix City earlier that day—and nearby surveillance footage showed her Chevy Equinox pulling into the shop on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.