Boyfriend charged in Johnson County woman's death

Eric Osborn, the live-in boyfriend of Sarah McKay who was found dead earlier this week, has been charged with 1st degree murder after he admitted to hitting her with a baseball bat and strangling her to death.

At about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Johnson County Sheriff's deputies responded to  18 Expo Drive. They found McKay, 34, dead in the back bedroom and Osborn, bleeding from the neck and arms, in the front seat of his truck outside.

Osborn told the deputies that he hit McKay in the head with a baseball bat around 3:00 a.m. Sunday, and then choked her because he didn't want her to suffer. He said they'd been drinking and that he had also smoked marijuana and taken some pills.

Osborn told investigators that he then blacked out and didn't remember what he'd done. He said that he tried to kill himself once he realized he'd killed McKay, which caused him to black out again.

When Osborn awoke around 8 p.m. he said he called his mother and asked her to drive to Iowa City because he said he thought he hurt McKay and thought she might be dead. When his mother arrived along with other friends and family, they called 911.

Osborn told investigators that he had no idea why he killed McKay.

Osborn was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he underwent surgery for his injuries.

His bail is set for $1,000,000 and an has an preliminary hearing March 22 at 2 p.m.

LISTEN: 11 seconds of scanner as deputies arrive on scene.

Read the Complaint