A 21-year-old Army man who served a year-long deployment in Afghanistan was charged yesterday with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend.

Spc. Jeffery White, 21, is accused of killing Felicia LaDuke, 23, who is also an Army soldier assigned to Schofield Barracks.

LaDuke's body was discovered Saturday night in a grassy area near a parking lot past Camp Erdman in Mokule'ia. An autopsy performed by the city medical examiner's office determined the cause of death as asphyxia due to strangulation.

In addition to murder, White was also charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto theft). His total bail is $100,000. White has an appearance scheduled today at District Court, at which time a preliminary hearing date to determine if there was probable cause for his arrest will be set.

According to Troy Griffin, a spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, White is a truck driver assigned to Company A, 325th Forward Support Battalion, and returned from deployment in March.

In a police report filed yesterday at District Court, investigating homicide Detective James Anderson stated that LaDuke and White, who have a 2-year-old son together, were involved in an ongoing custody dispute of the child. During the period of the dispute, White had been ordered to pay child support for his son, the report said.

The report also noted that White is married and has a child with his wife.

According to Anderson's affidavit, witnesses heard White allegedly say, "it would be better if LaDuke would just disappear," and that on at least one occassion, White allegedly told others he was going to kill LaDuke.

Police have statements from witnessses who allege that White stated he was with LaDuke in her vehicle on Friday at 10:30 p.m. near Ka'ena Point and that while they were inside the vehicle, he strangled her.

The police report added "That White then pushed LaDuke out of her car and ran over LaDuke's body with the car. That White placed LaDuke's body in the bushes on the side of the roadway and covered her body with brush and leaves." White drove the car back to Wahiawa and left it near Schofield Barracks, the report stated.

White allegedly returned to the murder scene with a friend several hours later and showed the acquaintance where the body was hidden, the report said.

Military police were notified and after it was determined the body was on state property, Army criminal investigators notified Honolulu police. White was arrested at Schofield Barracks at 7:50 p.m. Saturday.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.