Marcelle Elliott Murder: Grand Jury Indicts Two Suspects

CAROLLTON, Ga. (CBS/AP/WGCL) A Georgia grand jury indicted a man and woman Wednesday on murder charges in connection with the death of 21-year-old University of West Georgia student Marcelle "Marci" Elliott.

Farrah Strength, 29, and Joshua Clay, 31, both of Carrollton, were charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and concealing a death.

Authorities believe Elliot, a secondary education student, left her home in Cobb County to go to Carrollton to pick up a textbook from Strength. According to police, Elliot and Strength were "really, really close," but their relationship ended after the two had a tiff about a year ago, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

According to the Carrollton police, Strength and Clay kidnapped Elliott the evening of July 22, strangled her in Strength's house, and threw her body in a swamp, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Elliot's body was discovered July 28 in Carrollton.

Dan Kirby, a family friend, told CBS affiliate WGCL that the family suspected foul play from the beginning.

According to Kirby, Elliot didn't call her parents Friday which prompted her parents to check her phone and credit card records. When they didn't find anything, her parents called investigators, police said.

Police indicated that Elliot's father traced one of his daughter's cell phone calls which led them to Strength. She was initially cooperative with authorities, but she later turned into a suspect, reported WGCL.

Clay and Strength are slated to appear in court again October 15.

Complete Coverage of Marcelle Elliott on Crimesider.