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Man who said wife hanged herself now accused of murder

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A South Carolina man who authorities say told investigators his wife hanged herself with a garden hose has been charged with her murder.

An arrest warrant released by the State Law Enforcement Division on Wednesday charges 46-year-old Michael Colucci with murder in the death of Sara Lynn Moore-Colucci. Michael Colucci is a former jewelry store owner, CBS affiliate WCSC reports.

On May 20, 2015, Berkeley County deputies found the victim outside a building in Summerville, according to an affidavit.

Michael Colucci allegedly said the couple arrived at the building together, but his wife left the vehicle and he found her a short time later strangled with a garden hose.

The State Law Enforcement Division was later called in to investigate and the affidavit alleges Colucci strangled his wife. Evidence at the scene indicated there may have been a struggle, reports WCSC.

Colucci was arrested Wednesday and it was not immediately known if he had an attorney.

In a statement, Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said he re-investigated the woman's death after her family contacted him with concerns. He said he then turned the case over to state investigators.

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