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(UPDATED) - Michael Sanders Arrested For Little York Murder

Last updated on Thursday, July 26, 2018

(LITTLE YORK) - Around 12:30 p.m. today, Washington County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a stolen vehicle, a gold, 2007 Ford Focus, from East New Cut Road near the location where murder suspect Michael Joseph Sanders was last seen on Monday.

A hunt for the stolen vehicle resulted in Sanders being stopped on Boatman Road and York Road in Austin, near Interstate 65, by an Austin City Police Officer.

While the hunt for the stolen vehicle was taking place, the Washington County Prosecutor, Dustin Houchin, was in the process of seeking an arrest warrant on Sanders in the Washington County Circuit Court on a charge of murder.

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Sanders was taken into custody by Austin City Police Officers and detectives from the Indiana State Police and is incarcerated at the Washington County Jail.

Michael Joseph Sanders, 34, of 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York, is charged with the Murder of Skyler Naugle. Other charges are pending.

"Skyler Naugle has not been 100 percent positively identified by the coroner's standards," says "ISP Sgt. Jerry Goodin. "However, for investigative and probable cause standards the body located was identified as Skyler Naugle. There is not a missing person's case being worked at this point.

This investigation is continuing.

Earlier - Indiana State Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Department are looking of 34-year-old Michael Joseph Sanders.

Sanders is 5'-9" tall, 190 pounds, black hair and blue eyes. He lives 7707 East New Cut Road in Little

York where a body was discovered and police want to speak to him.

He was last seen Monday around 3 p.m.after the body was located and has not been seen or heard from since.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Sanders or sees him should dial 911.

On Monday morning, the Washington County Sheriff's Department requested assistance from detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg in searching for 35-year-old Skyler Naugle from Washington County at Sander's home on East New Cut Road.

Officers went to a home after discovering Naugle had been at the home before he went missing.

They then obtained permission and a search warrant to search the property.

While searching the property, officers located a body in a wooded area near the home. They body was not recognizable and an autopsy was performed Wednesday, but officials were unable to make a positive identification.

DNA and dental records will now be used in an attempt to positively identify the body. It is unknown how long it will take to get those results.

The autopsy did reveal the preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.

With the findings of the autopsy this case has now been officially classified as a - Murder Case.

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Police continue to search for Naugle. He is a white male 5 feet 7 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

Naugle was reported missing Saturday, July 21 by family members and was last seen on Monday, July 16th in the early morning hours in Little York.

Anyone with information regarding Naugle or the body found is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at (800) 872-6743 or the Washington County Sheriff's Department at (812) 883-5999.

The Washington County Coroner's Office and Prosecutor's Office are assisting in the investigation.

This investigation is continuing.

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