'Career criminal' charged with murdering missing priest

'Career criminal' charged with murdering missing priest

ATLANTA (AP) — A man described as a "career criminal" who led authorities to the body of a missing Florida priest has been charged with murder in Georgia, a law enforcement official said Thursday.

"If anybody really loves Father Rene, they'll forgive me because he was a man of God and forgiveness is forgiveness," he said in video aired by local TV stations.

Murray had several guns, including a double-barreled shotgun, a pump-action rifle and several BB guns; as well as jewelry, cash, medication and merchandise, according to the arrest warrant from South Carolina.

Authorities believe the suspect kidnapped the priest, took him to Georgia in his own car and killed him there, but the motive for the killing remains unclear.