In Minnesota, the colleagues of Ruth Anne Maddox at the Shakopee Valley News are mourning her death after learning that the 45-year-old reporter was murdered last week. And now the former Warsaw, Ind., journalist's husband has been charged.

Authorities say 43-year-old Charles Anthony Maddox Junior told police he strangled his wife. He was charged Friday in Scott County District Court, the Associated Press reports.

Ruth Anne Maddox was a features and education reporter for the Valley News, a suburban newspaper near Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Maddox was last seen covering a school board meeting, Valley News staff writers Shawn Hogendorf and Pat Minelli reported.

Her body was found Wednesday after she missed work the day before.

Court papers say when police showed up with a search warrant, Charles Maddox said: "I might as well save you the trouble; you will find Ruth Ann's body in the garage."

Preliminary autopsy reports indicate Maddox died of blunt force head and neck injuries, the AP said.

Charles Maddox told police his wife came at him with a screwdriver and had a knife.

Ruth Anne Maddox had recently filed for divorce and was planning on returning to Indiana.

Maddox moved to Minnesota from Warsaw in 2004 after marrying, the Valley News reports. The couple attended high school together in Hammond and reconnected at a high school reunion.

Before moving, Ruth Anne was a reporter for the Times-Union, where she worked from 1987 to 2003.

Pat Minelli, the editor at the Minnesota paper, has asked readers to share their memories of Ruth Anne, which they hope to pass on to her family here in Indiana, including 19-year-old daughter Kelsey Long.

To read comments about Maddox or contribute your own, check the Web links at http://www.shakopeenews.com.

There's also information on services, planned for 6 p.m. Monday at the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel in Warsaw, with visitation immediately before.