Aitkin County Man Charged In Death of Missing Woman

AITKIN (AP) -- An Aitkin County man is charged with murder after authorities say they found a missing woman's body buried in a crawl space under the home where he lived.

The family of 35-year-old Michelle Mae, of Outing, reported her missing Oct. 3. Sheriff's officials say her Jeep was found near the defendant's residence a day later.

A criminal complaint says Mae met 34-year-old Joshua Karjala online. The complaint lists evidence of clothing, bedding and electronics that were found in a fireplace, crawl space and in the basement of the residence.

The complaint alleges that Karjala told a nurse at the Aitkin County Jail that he had been using methamphetamine laced with ecstasy and that he ``may have killed a girl.''

It's not clear if Karjala has hired a defense attorney.