The boyfriend of Mariah Woods' mother was charged Wednesday with murder and felony child abuse in the 3-year-old’s death, and chloroform killed her, the Onslow County Sheriff's Office said.

Adolphus Earl Kimrey II, 32, had reported the girl missing on Nov. 27 and had been charged with obstructing justice, concealing an unattended death and other counts after a dive team found Mariah’s body Dec. 2 in a creek in Pender County. He had been in custody since then.

The State Medical Examiner determined Monday that chloroform toxicity caused Mariah’s death.