CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Police have charged a former co-worker in the death of a Chesapeake, Va. massage therapist whose dismembered remains were found in trash bags several weeks after she was reported missing.

Virginia Beach police said Wednesday that 38-year-old Justin Keith Cornell of Virginia Beach has been charged with murder in the death of 43-year-old Brianna Armstrong.

Armstrong was reported missing by her husband, Corey Creek, on May 9, about two days after he last saw her. An affidavit filed with a search warrant in Chesapeake Circuit Court says Armstrong's remains were found on May 31 near the Dismal Swamp Canal. Authorities said she had not been deceased for more than three or four days, suggesting that Armstrong was held alive at an unknown location prior to her death.

Armstrong and Cornell both worked as massage therapists at the Knuckles n Knots day spa, which has locations in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, manager Mark Harris told CBS affiliate WTKR.

"You think if maybe I had noticed something, we could have averted the tragedy," he said. "I knew that they were close. I knew that they would work together and come to each other's shop and I know that Brianna would occasionally see Justin to get a massage."

Harris told the station he fired Cornell shortly after Armstrong was reported missing for reasons not related to Armstrong's disappearance.

When police first requested to meet with Armstrong's husband Corey Creek at his home, they were told by Creek that his lawyer had advised him to assist with the investigation and not to allow them to enter.

A search warrant was issued so police could search Creek's home. Police were looking for anything that could have restrained Armstrong as well as any weapons such as saws, knives or axes that could've been used to conceal or dispose of her body, according to the warrants. The documents said they also searched for any cleaning items that could have concealed evidence of murder.

After authorities executed the search warrant, no items were seized from the home, according to court documents.

Chesapeake Police spokesperson Kelly O'Sullivan told WTKR, "I am not saying yes, and I am not saying no" when asked whether Creek was a suspect or person of interest.

Creek told the station several weeks ago that Cornell was dating his wife.

Virginia Beach police said in a statement that they became the lead investigative agency after investigators developed information indicating the crime occurred in Virginia Beach. Creek had told police that the last time he saw her, Armstrong was going to a friend's house at an apartment complex in neighboring Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach police later found Armstrong's vehicle in a strip mall near Cornell's apartment, and about a week later, her cell phone was discovered in the same parking lot.

Police searched Cornell's home Tuesday for more than five hours before arresting him, reports the station.

Cornell is being held in the Virginia Beach jail without bond and online records do not indicate whether he has an attorney. Cornell appeared in court Wednesday for an arraignment and was due back in court later in the week for a bond review hearing.