Illinois man charged with wife's murder

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- An Illinois man faces charges for the murder of his wife after her body was found Sunday in Mississippi County.

Clifford Ray Williams Sr., 45, of Ullin, Illinois, and formerly of Charleston, is charged with murder in the first degree, which is punishable upon conviction by a minimum of 15 years to life in prison. He also is charged with felony armed criminal action, punishable by three years to life.

Williams was taken into custody shortly after the body of his missing wife, Sylvia Marie Tipler, 45, also of Ullin, was discovered Sunday evening in rural Mississippi County off Route K near Bird's Point.

Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker said preliminary autopsy results show blunt trauma to Tipler's head.

"It's one of the most violent deaths we've had in quite some time," Parker said.

Williams, who is being held without bond at the Mississippi County Detention Center, will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday.