Man charged in girlfriend's murder after her body found in his mini-van, police say

ODENTON, Md. - A man is facing charges after police say he allegedly murdered his girlfriend and kept her body inside of his mini-van.

Officers say 26-year-old Edgar Franklin Manning IV was arrested on Wednesday, September 26. One day prior to his arrest, his girlfriend, 21-year-old Megan Ellen Burdeaux, was reported missing. Police say the person who reported her missing indicated to them that she may have been murdered by Manning and her body may be in his vehicle.

Officers say they located Manning and the vehicle parked in the area of Sappington Station Road and Burns Crossing Road in Odenton around 2:50 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police say Manning fought with officers and was taken into custody. When investigators searched the vehicle they say they found the body of who they believed to be Burdeaux inside.

Investigators believe an argument between Manning and Burdeaux on Monday, September 24 in Pasadena, Maryland led to Manning assaulting her and causing her death.

Burdeaux's body was taken to the medical examiner's office. Manning has been charged with the first and second-degree murder connected to her death.

FOX 5 spoke with Burdeaux's mother who provided us with a photograph of her daughter and said she was working on becoming a veterinarian when she was killed. "Megan loved animals more than people," her mother said. She said she had been dating Manning for about a year.

Police say the investigation is still continuing at this time.