Ex-husband of missing pregnant Texas woman charged with murder

HOUSTON, Texas – The estranged husband of a missing pregnant Texas woman, whose body is believed to have been found Thursday, has been charged with her murder, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

Matt Sowders, 28, was charged Friday with capital murder in the death of 26-year-old Melissa Sowders.

Melissa Sowders has been missing since Dec. 26 after dropping her boyfriend off at work at 6:15 a.m. Sowders’ boyfriend said Sowders was supposed to go meet her ex-husband and their youngest daughter at the McDonald’s on the day she disappeared.

A body found Thursday in Cypress Creek in Harris County, Texas, is believed to be the missing 26-year-old, according to KHOU.

Following the discovery of the body Thursday, authorities took Matt Sowders, into custody at his parents’ home in Humble, reports the station.

During his court appearance early Friday, prosecutors said two women heard separate confessions from Matt Sowders in regards to the killing of Melissa Sowders, according to the station.

One of the women claimed she saw what she believed to be a lifeless body in the doorway of Matt Sowders’ apartment when she went to visit, prosecutors reportedly said.

That witness reportedly alerted authorities and called Matt Sowders’ with a deputy on the line. Prosecutors said Sowders admitted on that phone call to killing his wife, the station reports.

The other female witness said she received a visit from Matt Sowders’ in which he told her he strangled Melissa Sowders to death after she pulled a gun on him. He allegedly went on to say he stuffed Melissa’s body into a large black trash can and transported her to Cypress Creek where he submerged her body, the station reports.

Matt Sowders’ was denied bond. If convicted, he could get life in prison or the death penalty.

Matt and Melissa Sowders reportedly had four children together. She was pregnant with her current boyfriend’s child at the time of her death, according to KHOU.

An autopsy is being performed on the body found in Cypress Creek to confirm its identity.