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17-year-old charged with strangling death of 98-year-old Wadsworth woman appeared in court

Margaret Douglas was found dead in a closet last week.

WADSWORTH -- The 17-year-old Wadsworth High School student that was arrested and charged with the of a 98-year-old woman last week appeared in court Wednesday.

Margaret Douglas was discovered in a closet inside her Portage Street home last Monday when officers performed a welfare check. She had been reported missing by relatives, who said she was last seen April 5.

Officials say Douglas' body had been hidden in a closet beneath various items of clothing, and while foul play was not initially suspected, they now say she was strangled to death.

Police have not publicly identified the teen suspect. They do say his priors include vandalism and criminal damaging.

The teen was in Cleveland when detectives determined his involvement in Douglas' death, according to officials. Douglas' wallet was also apparently found in his home. Fairview Park police were notified of the suspect's location and took him into custody.

Douglas lived alone as a widow and her nephew in Canton kept tabs on her.

MORE | Wadsworth: Missing 98-year-old woman found dead in 'hidden location'

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