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Man Charged With Killing Wife In Silverthorne Appears In Court

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (CBS4) - A man accused of killing his wife in Summit County appeared in court on Tuesday morning.

Investigators arrested Dale Bruner earlier this month on murder and assault charges following a grand jury indictment. Tuesday's court proceeding was an advisement hearing.

Stephanie Roller Bruner, 41, was reported missing last November, just before Thanksgiving. Three days later her body turned up in the Blue River near the family home in Silverthorne.

Police say the mother of three died from blunt force trauma, strangulation and drowning. She was only wearing a T-shirt when she was found.

Court records indicate the couple was having marital problems.

It took a long time for the arrest to take place in the case because the area sees so little crime that Summit County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert had to petition for a special grand jury. It took several months just to seat that grand jury from the four counties the district encompasses.

The three children of the couple are living in California with Roller Bruner's brother.

Roller Bruner was a former Summit County Government employee and a dance instructor.

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