Howard County Man Convicted of Wife's 1991 Death

Prosecutors say Robert Jarrett Jr. killed his wife and reported her missing

An Elkridge man was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder in the 1991 death of his wife, whose body was found last year buried in the family's back yard.

Prosecutors say Robert Jarrett Jr. killed his wife, 34-year-old Christine Jarrett in January 1991 but instead reported her missing, saying she had walked away from her home after an argument.

At the time, police suspected foul play but had no evidence to prove it. But last year they received new information and went to the couple's former home at 6050 Claire Drive. Jarrett's current wife, from whom he was estranged, was living there and allowed investigators to search the property.

Christine Jarrett's body was found buried under the floorboards of a backyard shed in April 2012.

Prosecutors said Robert Jarrett fatally choked his wife.

Robert Jarrett was tried by a jury in Howard County Circuit Court. He faces up to 30 years in prison at sentencing Aug. 8.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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