TOWANDA -- Homicide charges have been filed in the death of a woman from central Pennsylvania who was missing for nearly two months before her body was discovered.
The case began in January after an alleged home invasion and arson at the home Michelle Inch shared with her parents near Montoursville.
Weeks later in March, Inch's body was discovered in the woods of Bradford County.
On Tuesday, her boyfriend was charged with homicide.
According to court papers, a piece of a shotgun and matching DNA evidence tied Michael Houseweart to his girlfriend's murder. Houseweart was already in jail in Lycoming County for that arson and armed robbery that happened back in January.
Houseweart stared straight ahead and was quiet as he walked into district court in Towanda.
Houseweart is charged with killing his girlfriend, Michelle Inch of Williamsport. He faces one count of criminal homicide.
We first told you about Houseweart and another man, Brian Vroman, back in January. The two were charged with attempted homicide after they allegedly robbed Inch's parents and set fire to their home near Williamsport.
At first, state police wondered if the couple's daughter was involved, but Michelle Inch was nowhere to be found.
In March, her body was discovered along a creek in Bradford County.
State police believe Michael Houseweart knew what happened to her, but he wasn't talking.
According to court papers, the last time Inch was seen was the day before the arson and armed robbery. Houseweart told his roommate the two were going target shooting. The next day Houseweart's roommate noticed that Houseweart's shotgun was broken and Inch was not with him.
State police say Houseweart changed his story several times and did not tell them where Inch was. When her body was finally found in March, a piece of Houseweart's shotgun was found with it. The blood found inside her car was her own blood, and blood was found on Houseweart's shoe.
Investigators said blood belonging to both Inch and Houseweart was found on the shotgun.
An autopsy showed that Michelle Inch had been shot and stabbed several times.
State police say Michael Houseweart's motive may have been jealousy. Houseweart recently found out Inch was messaging an ex-boyfriend on Facebook.
State police say the other man allegedly involved in the armed robbery, Brian Vroman will not face any charges in the death of Michelle Inch.
