Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, the Augusta County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a suspicious white male at the Food Lion parking lot on Laurel Hill Road in Verona.

The responding deputy soon located a black 1998 Toyota 4 Runner and made contact with the man in the vehicle who was identified as Timothy Aaron Wilkins of Churchville.

Upon further investigation, the deputy observed the partially hidden body of a dead woman in the rear area of Wilkins's vehicle. The woman was the victim of foul play.

Wilkins was detained and further investigation led to the issuance of a warrant charging Wilkins with the first degree murder of Misty M. Phillips, a 36-year-old Staunton resident.

The investigation is continuing and investigators are awaiting further details on the case from the State Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke.

Wilkins is currently being held without bond at the Middle River Regional Jail.