MARION - A body found early Wednesday morning on a popular biking and hiking trail is a missing Marion woman. Marion police say Mary McBride, 41, was last seen on June 18th.

Police just confirmed they found her body on Wednesday and charged Christopher John Murray, 32, of Cedar Rapids with first degree murder.

Marion police say a tip that came in just before 5:00 Wednesday morning led them to a part of the Cedar River Trail near 42nd Street.

Officers and crime scene units swarmed the area and directed bikers and hikers on a detour.

What police found here was a mystery until a police news conference late Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities say Mary McBride was last seen at her Marion home the night of June 18th.

Investigators would not reveal her connection to murder defendant Christopher Murray.

But police believe she was lying dead here along the trail the entire time.

“If you look at the complaint, you can see when the murder was committed...so the body has been there at least that two week period and with the elements, draw your own conclusion of what the body looked like," said Marion Police Chief, Harry Daugherty.

Marion police say the tip that led them to the body along the trail also directed them to Murray as a suspect.

Murray is expected to make an initial appearance in court on Thursday. Police say that's when an autopsy is scheduled as well.

Stay with KCRG-TV9 for continuing coverage of this breaking news story.