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Woman Allegedly Killed By Husband, Whom She Called Her ‘Best Friend,' During New Year's Eve Argument

Ryan Arthur Hilton is accused of shooting his wife Amanda Hilton with a shotgun during a New Year's Eve dispute before trying to hide her body in a field behind their Southgate, Michigan apartment complex.

By Gina Tron

A Michigan woman who vanished on New Year’s Eve has been found murdered, and now her husband is in police custody.

The body of Amanda Hilton, 31, who was last seen alive on the final day of 2020, was discovered Tuesday behind the Southgate apartment complex where she lived with her husband, the Detroit News reports. She had been shot in the head, local outlet WXYZ reports.

Southgate Police Chief Joe Marsh told the outlet Wednesday that Hilton’s husband, 32-year-old Ryan Arthur Hilton, was arrested the same day after being deemed a person of interest. Hilton has now been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and two counts of felony firearm, ClickOnDetroit reports.

Prosecutors believe that he fatally shot his wife with a shotgun following an argument. Then, they believe he  brought her body to a field with tall grass behind their apartment and near a dumpster.

Amanda Hilton Fb

On the header of the slain woman’s Facebook page, she wrote “Married to my best friend 9/7/2019” and “proud mommy” of two. One of the children has since died, according to her obituary. The surviving child, a son, was reportedly fathered by Ryan, WWJ-950 reports. The slain mother's Facebook page also lists her as a preschool teacher's assistant.

It’s not clear Ryan has a lawyer. He was arraigned Thursday and is being held without bond. He is due back in court on Jan. 15. He faces a possible life imprisonment.

Marsh had initially told WJBK that the killing was “not a random act of violence or anything like that so we feel there is no harm or public concern to the community."