A sex offender has been arrested in the strangling death of an Alabaster woman, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Mark Anthony Carruba, 32, of Alabaster, has been formally charged with the murder of Sheree Gail Valenzuela. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was in the Shelby County Jail on $1 million bond.

Deputies arrested Carruba on Friday and charged him on unrelated charges of violating the Sex Offender Act. The homicide investigation continued until he was formally charged with the murder Tuesday afternoon.

Valenzuela’s body was discovered last Thursday about 15 feet off of Shelby County 97 in Columbiana. Valenzuela, 32, was reported missing by her sister on April 10.

An initial autopsy showed Valenzuela was strangled to death, according to the sheriff’s office. The Alabama Department of Forensic Science will conduct a detailed autopsy this week.

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry said tips and leads from the public helped crack the case.

“I would like to thank the citizens who provided investigators with information related to this homicide. Your role was essential to the investigation,” said Curry.

Anyone with further information regarding the case is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 669-4181 or by going to www.shelbyso.com and selecting “Reporter Criminal Activity.”