A 43-year-old woman was arrested in Newton, Massachusetts, for allegedly murdering her friend and former landlord, 65-year-old Leonard Garber, after he caught her forging his checks and stealing $40,000, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Xiu Fang Ke, was charged for killing Garber after he was found dead at his Newton home Tuesday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said, as reported by Mass Live.

Garber's friends and family reported him missing on Sept. 26, and the investigators visited his house twice after the report. However, the cops spotted Garber's body which was wrapped in a curtain and buried under construction materials in the front hallway of the house only when they visited for the third time.

Although the exact date of Garber's murder is unclear, investigators believe that his body was in the house for over a day and had been deliberately concealed, Newton Police Department said in a news release.

Investigators revealed that Garber was visiting Ke at a different location on the day he was reported missing. It was also found that Ke allegedly forged Garber's check and stole $40,000 from their joint account.

The police believe that Garber, who realized the money was stolen sometime last week, must have confronted Ke about it, which ended in the murder.

Ke was identified as the suspect after the surveillance video at Garber's residence showed an Asian female entering the house days before the body was discovered.

Officials believe that Garber died of blunt force trauma and an autopsy report is awaited to confirm the exact cause of his death.

During an arraignment Wednesday afternoon, Ke was ordered to be held without bail. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 31 for a probable cause hearing.

"I'm proud of the outcome of the investigation. Everyone worked very hard over the past 72, 48 hours." Newton Police Chief John Carmichael said in a press conference, Metro West Daily News reported.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller extended his condolences to Garber's family after the tragic death. "I personally express my condolences, and I speak for the people of Newton when I say my hearts and prayers here," Fuller said.

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