The Chronicle

Eric Lee Roberts, the Rochester man authorities say confessed to killing Nancy Moyer in 2009 and then recanted the confession, has been held in the Snohomish County Jail since July 19 on a warrant for domestic-violence assault.

Roberts was arrested July 10 on suspicion of second-degree murder after he allegedly told detectives he accidently strangled Moyer to death with a scarf as the two were having sexual contact. Prosecutors declined to file a formal murder charge, pending the outcome of a sheriff’s office investigation.

At the time of his arrest, there was an active warrant for his arrest on a count of fourth-degree assault — domestic violence, a gross misdemeanor.

Snohomish County Jail records indicate he’s being held on $10,000 bail, with the case to go before the Edmonds Municipal Court.

After being released from the Thurston County Jail, Roberts was promptly re-arrested and remanded into federal custody for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm. The charge was quickly dismissed after a re-evaluation of the gun revealed it didn’t match the nature of the charge against Roberts.

While the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is still actively investigating Roberts’ possible connection to Moyer’s disappearance and presumed death, county prosecutors announced they would not file charges against Roberts until the investigation is concluded.

Detectives removed pieces of evidence from Roberts’ residence during the execution of a search warrant, according to authorities.