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CBS 7 EXCLUSIVE: Missing Houston Mother's Body Found in Midland County
CBS 7 EXCLUSIVE: Missing Houston Mother's Body Found in Midland County 9/30/12
fbolton@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
September 30, 2012
MIDLAND CO., TX - The body of a missing Houston mother was found in Midland County today. According to our affiliate KHOU in Houston, her boyfriend has confessed to the murder.
After hours of searching, deputies with the Midland County Sheriff’s Office found the body of Michele Warner, a missing mother from Houston. Police say she was killed by a former lover.
Midland County sheriff’s deputies spent the day investigating in the 7000 block of South County Road 1200. According to Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter, they found the body of a woman on private property just after 6:00 p.m. today.
The Houston police department confirms it's 31-year-old Michelle Warner.
“At approximately 6:25 we did locate a grave or a partial grave containing the body of one female,” said Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter.
Last week Houston police were seen searching Warner’s apartment. Now they confirm that her estranged boyfriend, Mark Castellano, confessed to the murder and is in custody in Harris County. Police say Castellano told investigators where to look for the body in Midland County.
“The Midland County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from detectives out of the Houston police department, requesting our assistance at attempting to locate a body that would be in Midland area,” said Painter.
This full-scale search included the DPS helicopter, mounted-patrols and search by foot.
At this time, police are not saying how Warner was killed. According to Houston police, Warner’s 3-year-old child is safe in Houston.
Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter says the body is being taken back to Houston for a full autopsy.