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Investigators Resume Search For Alleged Murder Victim April Wyckoff

UNION TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Law enforcement agencies have resumed their search for the body of a Cranford, N.J,. woman who they say was killed by her boyfriend.

Investigators believe Matthew Ballister, 43, killed April Wyckoff, also 43, inside his Union Township home Tuesday evening. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Crews began looking for Wyckoff's body Friday morning at several undisclosed locations in Union, Hudson, and Essex counties, then returned to those areas for several hours on Saturday. The search then resumed Sunday morning.

Ballister's 70-year-old mother, Eleanor Schofield, is accused of interfering with the investigation. Authorities say she attempted to assist in his effort to conceal evidence of the crime.

Ballister remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.

Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said Thursday a tip led authorities to the house. She would not discuss a motive.

"The evidence, we believe, shows murder by a method of blunt force trauma," Park said.

"We've charged Mr. Ballister, so the case will proceed with or without the body. But we would really like to recover that body."

Wyckoff is the mother of two children, had recently moved into an apartment in Cranford and worked in the corporate offices of Bed Bath & Beyond.

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