Jenni-Lyn Watson Search: Ex-Boyfriend Charged With Murder in Case of Missing Ballerina

Nov. 27, 2010— -- An ex-boyfriend of Jenni-Lyn Watson, the 20-year-old ballerina who went missing after coming home to suburban Syracuse, N.Y., to spend Thanksgiving with her family, has been arrested and charged with her murder.

Police announced the arrest just hours after they said they had found the remains of a body in the park where they had been searching for the missing woman.

Steven Pieper, 21, of Liverpool, N.Y., was arrested at around 4 p.m. today, and charged with second degree murder.

He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned this evening in Clay Town Court. Town Justice Brian Lauri ordered Pieper held without bail and he was taken to the Onondaga County Justice Center.

He is due back in court on Friday, Dec. 3.

Watson had decided in October to end her relationship with Pieper, which had been on-again, off-again for 18 months, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

Investigators believe that Pieper, who was a suspect early on in the case, killed Watson at her parents' home shortly before noon on Friday, Nov. 19, then took her to the wooded area near the Clay Town Park, where her body was discovered this morning, Fitzpatrick said.

The district attorney said there were no visible signs of struggle from Watson.

Earlier today, Fitzpatrick announced that the remains of a body had been found in Clay Central Park, about four miles from Watson's home.

Even before investigators had positively identified the body, Fitzpatrick said the remains were consistent with that of a young, white woman in her 20s.

"Logic and common sense tell us it is likely the remains of Ms. Watson," Fitzpatrick said.

Watson's family has been notified, he said.

The remains were to be sent to the chief medical examiner's office in Syracuse, and he said it was expected that the remains would be identified and a cause of death will be determined today.