The husband of a missing North Carolina woman whose body was found last week has been charged with murder.

Kiara Wiggins, 39, was last seen by her family on June 9 and reported missing on June 18, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The family also reported at that time that they were unable to contact Wiggins’ husband, Carl Wiggins.

Carl Wiggins was jailed on auto theft charges on June 23 after leading police a high speed chase in a 2003 Ford Excursion he allegedly stole in Bladen County. Wiggins tried to flee on foot after state troopers used stop sticks on the vehicle, but the troopers chased him down. He was reportedly uncooperative when asked about his wife’s disappearance.

On August 2, a body was found in rural Sampson County, and investigators believed it could be that of Kiara Wiggins, ABC11 reported. Her identity was confirmed by the state medical examiner’s office two days later.

On Wednesday, Carl Wiggins was charged with first degree murder.

Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said that within two hours of the initiation of a search in the area of Boykin Bridge Road last week, investigators found a spot where “dirt appeared to have been recently disturbed, possibly by digging.” When a cadaver dog gave “a positive alert,” the sheriff’s office called in state investigators, who uncovered the body.

The medical examiner has not determined a cause of death but has said the manner was homicide.

Carl Wiggins made his first court appearance on the murder charge on Wednesday and requested a court-appointed attorney. He’s being held without bond.

“I know this is not the outcome that the family nor we as law enforcement had hoped for,” Thornton said, “but my office, along with the district attorney’s office, will continue to work together to bring Kiara’s family the closure and justice it deserves.”

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[Featured image: Kiara Wiggins/Sampson County Sheriff’s Office]