An Augusta County grand jury Monday indicted Timothy Aaron Wilkins, 39, of Churchville, in the murder of his girlfriend.

Augusta County Sheriff’s deputies testified they found Misty M. Phillips, 36, of Staunton, strangled and stuffed in the back of Wilkins’ Toyota 4 Runner in the Food Lion parking lot in Verona.

A jailed murder suspect already considered a suicide risk destroyed a sprinkler system in his cell, jail officials said Wednesday.

A Churchville man strangled his girlfriend with his bare hands and later admitted to the crime, according to authorities.

Woman’s body found in back of SUV at Food Lion