Michigan Man with 'Bit of a Temper' Arrested in Connection with Murder of Burger King Coworker Ex-Girlfriend: Prosecutor

A Michigan woman was found dead near a riverbank, and now authorities say her boyfriend has been arrested in connection with her murder.

On March 4, the body of 48-year-old Christina Barber was found by a fisherman near the Flint River in Flint, according to the Genesee Township Police Department.

The investigation zeroed in on room 18 at the Flint Motel, which was rented to the victim on Feb. 28, police said. Law enforcement said surveillance video allegedly shows two people go inside that day, but only one left on Feb. 29.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told WJRT that around 8 that evening, Barber’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Christopher Motry, is seen on video exiting the motel room. Leyton said Motry was carrying “what appears to be a body in a plastic bag,” which he put into the bed of his truck.

Authorities believe Motry than took that plastic bag to the banks of the Flint River and deposited the body there.

On March 3, three days after that surveillance video was recorded, officers were called to the Flint Motel. Officers found Room 18 open and a comforter that appeared to be soaked in blood on the ground outside the door, the prosecutor said.

Meanwhile, Barber’s coworkers at Burger King reported their concern after she didn’t show up to work in a week and was not answering her telephone. The victim's colleagues told officials she had been having trouble with her boyfriend.

Investigators said Barber and Motry used to work together at Burger King, where she was a manager and he was an employee.

Police said Motry had been violent at the workplace in the past, including one alleged incident in which he became angry with Barber and ripped the handles off her car door. Leyton said Motry “had a bit of a temper.”

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

Police executed a search warrant at Motry’s residence in Flint and arrested him.

He was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of an individual, and domestic violence, according to officials.

Motry was booked into jail and remains behind bars. His next scheduled court date is March 21.