U.S. Marine Willie Ellington is facing first-degree murder and possession of child pornography after a bizarre case spanning two states.

The body of Tshey Bennett was found Wednesday in a pond of an abandoned Mobile neighborhood. The woman, who worked as an escort, was reported missing on December 14.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office realized suspicious circumstances surrounding the case and began investigating it as a potential homicide.

Investigators determined Bennett's last move was meeting Ellington at the Sweet Dreams Inn. They believe she was killed in Northwest Florida. However, the release of information nearly botched the investigation.

"The ECSO typically delays the release of information regarding a located missing person until next of kin has been notified," the sheriff's office stated. "The investigation was complicated by information released/reported prematurely before we could notify the family and before investigators were able to locate the suspect."

Meanwhile, authorities in Mobile discovered Bennett's body. By Wednesday afternoon, Ellington was located on a Greyhound bus in Opelika and taken into custody.

Ellington, 20, is an active duty U.S. Marine onboard NAS Pensacola.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.

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