UPDATE: Rockford man charged with murder of ex-girlfriend

ROSCOE — A death investigation in Winnebago County has turned into a murder investigation.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office said 46-year-old Rayshawn Smith was charged with the murder of 38-year-old Ashley Hardin.

Hardin and Smith were previously in a relationship, according to the sherrif's office.

The sheriff's office said they were called around 3:45 a.m. Saturday for a missing person, later identified as Hardin.

Around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the Roscoe Police Department responded to a business in the 5100 block of E. Rockton Road after a body was found behind the building. The body was identified as Hardin's, according to the sheriff's office.

Related: Multiple people shot at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford, police say

Smith was identified as a person of interest and was located just before 11 a.m. in the 300 block of N. Main St. in Rockford, authorities said.

Smith was taken into custody and later charged with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and unlawful restraint.

Smith is being held in the Winnebago County Jail on a $2 million bond.

Andy Carrigan is the Content Manager for the Rockford Register Star and the Journal-Standard in Freeport. acarrigan@rrstar.com, @AndyCarriganRRS

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford man faces muder charges in death if ex-girlfriend