An Alabama man has been charged with capital murder after a young Alabama girl was found dead on Sunday.

The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday afternoon that 33-year-old Christopher Wayne Madison has been arrested and charged with capital murder, in connection with the death of 11-year-old Amberly Barnett.

The little girl died by strangulation, according to preliminary reports. She was found around 200 yards behind the home she vanished from in Collinsville.

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“Due to the ongoing investigation, and in order not to jeopardize that investigation, I am not at liberty to disclose any additional information concerning this case,” DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said during a Monday afternoon press statement. “The road to justice for this sweet, innocent little girl is too important to release anything to jeopardize this investigation.”

Amberly was last seen at her aunt’s house, off of County Rd 822 in Collinsville, on Friday at around 6 p.m. A dark-colored SUV was supposedly spotted close to her home around the time she vanished, according to a family member. However, Dekalb County PIO, Tyler Pruitt told CrimeOnline that authorities had no confirmation of the SUV yet, aside from a family member reporting it.

A search continued throughout the night for Amberlee on Friday, as a search team combed through DeKalb County and into Georgia. The little girl’s body was found at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

“At approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning, the deceased body of 11-year-old Amberly Alexis Barnett was located,” Sheriff Nick Welden said during a Saturday press conference. “Due to the current investigation, we are limited on the information that we are able to release.”

On Monday, a Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensic Science crime scene vehicle was spotted parked at Mount Vernon Church, a few miles from the Collinsville home.

The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

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[Feature Photo: Amberly Barnett/Police Handout]