A Kermit man remains in jail after he confessed to police officers to murdering his estranged wife at a mining site.

Roger David Stroud was arrested early Wednesday morning after the body of 29-year-old Vadie “Michelle” Stroud of Kermit, was found in a remote wooded area between Lenore and Kermit.

Stroud was arraigned in front of Mingo County Magistrate Dee Sidebottom. He is charged with first degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body. Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury will determine bond at a later date.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department, Stroud drove his wife to Kermit Coal to talk when the two apprently began to argue.

The complaint states that the defendant walked to his Chevrolet truck, put on a pair of jersey gloves. The document said he retrieved his .357 revolver and shot Mrs. Stroud multiple times.

Stroud loaded her body into a white refrigerator which was already in the back of his truck, according to the court records. He then took the refrigerator and disposed of it over a hill at Newsome Ridge.

A group of Mrs. Stroud’s family and friends had gathered at the former Heleigh Myers Furniture store in Kermit where the victim’s car had been found abandoned and she was last seen. While others were out hanging flyers in hopes an individual would come forward with information and Michelle would be returned unharmed.

The scene became one of distraught and defeat after the news of Michelle’s death reached family and friends at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. Family and friends held hands and wept awaiting official word from authorities. Her mother was treated by emergency service personnel at the scene.

The family’s work was not in vain with Mrs. Stroud’s body being discovered less than 36 hours after her disappearance.

According to a report in yesterday’s Williamson Daily News, her father, Billy Maynard, and other family members located the refrigerator in the woods at Marrowbone Redevelopment.