JERSEY CITY, N.J. — New Jersey authorities say a Canadian woman whose remains were found in a cement-filled drum may have been strangled by her husband.
Randy “Amanda” Lehrer, who was originally from Montreal, was last seen August 17 leaving the diner where she and her husband, Steve Acuna, both worked.
Acuna, told police his 32-year-old wife went missing after they argued outside the diner.
Hudson County prosecutor Edward DeFazio says investigators believe she was killed shortly afterward.
Lehrer’s remains were found Friday in the basement of the Jersey City apartment building where the couple and their infant daughter lived.
Acuna has been charged with murder. He remained jailed Sunday on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today.
The couple’s 11-month-old daughter was placed in the care of her paternal grandfather shortly after Lehrer disappeared, but DeFazio said Sunday that he wasn’t sure if the man was still caring for the girl.