Cause Of Death Determined For Woman Killed In Domestic Homicide

SILVER SPRING, MD — Police have determined the cause of death that left a Silver Spring woman dead in Tuesday's domestic-related homicide.

Anthony Miguel Strong, 50, called police at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday and told them he had killed his girlfriend. The victim has been identified as Chaunya Michalyn Blackwell, 43.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of Blackwell's death as blunt force trauma and asphyxia (suffocation).

Officers responded to the home in the 11000 block of Bradbury Manor Court and located Strong standing outside of the home. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

See Related: Woman Found Dead Inside Home, Man In Custody: Police

Sources told NBC Washington that Strong told police Blackwell spent all their money and "he snapped."

"It was the money. They had shared accounts and it seems like his fiancée was taking money from his accounts," Ramon Korionoff, spokesman for the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office, told NBC Washington.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect and victim were dating and shared the home, police said.

Strong was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count of first-degree murder. He is currently being held without bond.

Photo: Montgomery County Police Department