Police: Husband confessed, charged with wife's murder in Pennypack Park

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA -- The husband of a woman found dead in Pennypack Park has confessed to her killing, police announced Sunday afternoon.

48-year-old Christopher Murray has been charged with the murder of his wife, 46-year-old Connie Murray, Lt. Philip Riehl of the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit said during a news conference.

"Obviously, there is no celebration in this case, but perhaps the people that play and exercise in Pennypack Park can have a sigh of relief that there is not a predator lurking in the area," Riehl said.

Riehl said on Saturday night, police brought Christopher Murray in for questioning.

State Police Trooper David Lang administered a lie detector test to Mr. Murray, which police say he failed.

Christopher was then questioned by detectives when he confessed to strangling his wife.

Riehl said there were certain parts of the husband's story that didn't add up from the beginning.

"Reality was he became a suspect early on and remained a suspect until he confessed," Riehl said.

Riehl said he would not get into too much details of the case on Sunday because it was also the day of Connie Murray's funeral.

Connie and Christopher have two daughters together, 12 and 15 years of age. Riehl said he was not even sure if the children were aware their father had been arrested.

According to authorities, around 9:00 p.m. Monday, Connie took her cellphone and headphones and went for a power walk around Pennypack Park.

Police say they recovered video of an encounter between Connie and Christopher on Willets Road soon after.

The video shows Christopher pulling his car up to Connie where she was walking. In the video, Connie sticks her head into the car, says something, and walks away. Christopher then drives away.

Police say they recovered the vehicle in the video, a silver Ford Taurus, which is the main car Christopher Murray drives.

Riehl said Connie and Christopher then met by two park benches, where Connie's body would later be found, to discuss a domestic dispute.

"We believe she went up there voluntarily to talk to him about whatever was going on, perhaps away from the children and things went bad," Riehl said.

Police say the attack occurred between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Connie Murray's body was found around 6:00 a.m. Tuesday at Holme and Convent Avenues near the Crispin Recreation Center by a woman walking her dog.

Earlier, authorities say they recovered DNA, but did not say where or whom it came from.

According to police, Murray's cellphone had been turned off and went missing. It was recovered Saturday night in a sewer at Solly and Lexington avenues.

A total of $51,000 in reward money, from various departments, was being offered in connection with the murder. Police have not said if anyone will receive any type of reward.