Thursday, the Blair County District attorney’s office announced that Michael Copley of Altoona was arrested for murdering his wife Catherine.
This comes after an investigation that took more than three dozen police officers and several other agencies over 2 years to crack.
Police have been searching for answers since 29 year old Catherine Copley went missing in December of 2015.
The next June her body was found in the garage of a condemned home in Altoona.
The family of Catherine Copley says today’s arrest of Michael Copley, on charges of murdering their daughter and sister gives them peace.
At the same time, they know their fight is not over. “The wait is worth it,” Catherine Boob, Catherine’s Mother said.
Catherine Boob and her family have been waiting for this day for more than two years.
“It’s like Groundhog Day,” Boob said. “It’s like waking up to that every single day and just not knowing…anything, just going day and night and hoping that something would come out of this.”
“You can”t really express it, it’s just a lift off my shoulders,” Amy Boob, Catherine’s Sister said.
Prosecutors interviewed witnesses, gathered dna evidence at the crime scene and worked with Facebook, Google and a phone carrier to get information on Michael’s location the night Catherine disappeared.
“Obtaining information from both the cell phone provider and some of the applications that were on his phone that were able to provide us with specific GPS locations for Mr. Copley.”
Lt. Pratt of the Altoona Police Department, says it took extra time to make sure this case will hold up and get a conviction.
Catherine’s family says one fight has ended, but another is just about to start. They have a message for Michael.
“I just want him to know that we’re going to continue to fight through the trial and everything,” Amy Boob said. “He’s not going to get away with what he did and and I’m glad that he’s now charged, for the murder of my sister.”
The magisterial district judge will decide on a date for a preliminary hearing.