Montana man charged in death of girlfriend
MISSOULA, Mont. --A Montana man has been charged with deliberate homicide after his missing girlfriend was found dead over the weekend, reports CBS affiliate KTVQ.
Prosecutors say Emmanuel Gomez killed 26-year-old Charlie Ann Wyrick , whose body was found around 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Pattee Canyon, a recreational area in Missoula, Mont. Wyrick had been missing since Dec. 21.
Prosecutors say a co-worker requested a welfare check for Wyrick that day, after she missed work. That co-worker allegedly told detectives Wyrick was in an abusive relationship, saying she had come to work with injuries on multiple occasions.
The co-worker allegedly told police that Wyrick refused to report the abusive incidents because she was fearful.
On Dec 19, Wyrick told her co-worker that Gomez threatened to kill her if she upset him again, according to court records. She also allegedly told her co-worker to report her missing if she didn't come to work the following week, because she was planning on leaving Gomez.
Prosecutors say that Gomez forced Wyrick into his vehicle and drove her to the Canyon. Investigators believe he pushed her off the side of the road, causing her to fall about 50 feet. It is not known if she was injured or killed prior to being pushed off.
Gomez is charged with one count of deliberate homicide and a misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault.
He is set to appear in Missoula County Justice Court later Monday.