A Salem man is facing murder charges after police said he admitted to strangling his wife.

Salem Police said the man walked into the station at around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday and told officers, “I just killed my wife.”

Prosecutors said Carmila Saunders had recently filed a restraining order against her estranged husband, Douglas Steeves. The couple had been married for 27 years and were going through a divorce.

Monday night, Steeves allegedly returned home to Saunders and had dinner with her and their five children. Things were going well until an argument allegedly broke out and Steeves strangled her.

Police said Saunders had recently taken out a restraining order against Steeves and her family said she feared for her life.

Steeves is being held without bail after pleading not guilty.

He is due back in court next month.

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