An inmate charged with first-degree murder was found dead in the Missouri Department of Corrections on Tuesday, June 14.

A release from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office says on October 17, 2021, authorities responded to the report of a body in the Missouri River – later identified as 57-year-old Judith Young, of Malta Bend.

A probable-cause statement says an autopsy determined Young did not die from natural causes. Wayne Hrabe, of Malta Bend, and Tammy Hrabe, of Slater, allegedly admitted to killing Young. They claimed they were assisting Young in taking her own life by suffocating her with a plastic bag. After the death of Young, the Hrabes allegedly drove to a private river access and transported Young’s body to the riverbank and submerged it into the river.

Court documents say Wayne and Tammy Hrabe were charged with felonies for first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Wayne Hrabe was reported dead at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center while serving a 15-year sentence for habitual DWI. An autopsy will be conducted.

Tammy Hrabe’s attorney filed a motion- which was granted- for her to be admitted to the Department of Mental Health for evaluation on March 9. The continuation of Tammy Hrabe’s case is still pending.