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Moundville, AL - Moundville Police have charged 32-year old David Todd Stephens with murdering his ex-wife. 30-year old Tonya Stephens went missing 10-days ago, January 4th. Since then, police had been treating it as just a missing person case. But, Chief Kenneth Robertson says the break came last night when a tip lead them to Tonya's body off Lum Fife Road in Gordo of Pickens County. The location is about an hour drive from her home in Moundville where police believe Stephens killed Tonya then dumped her body. The site is also just feet from the home of Stephen's parents. They own the wooded property where the body was found in a makeshift grave. According to court documents,, the couple had recently divorced. Family members say the two were still living together trying to reconcile on behalf of their two year old son. Tonya's mother , Jody Brooks says things were still rocky and "Tonya told Todd she was leaving Monday because she and the baby were going to move in with me." Police believe Stephens became outraged, killed his ex-wife and dumped her body in rural Pickens County. The murder warrant on Stephens says he "hit her in the head" and "told investigators he buried her body after he killed her...[and]...lead investigators to her body." As of Thursday afternoon, Stephens remained in the Hale County jail. Tonya's mother said despite it all she forgives her daughters alledged killer. She told ABC 33/40, "He needs help. I had a really hard pain to hit me in my heart for him. I told the Lord I love him.'
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