A U.S. Marine stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola has been arrested and charged with the murder of a reality TV star whose body was discovered in an Alabama pond. Twenty-year-old Willie Ellington faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of child pornography following an investigation that began when Tshey Ronaie Bennett, 26, was reported missing.

Bennett, who appeared on the first season of HollyHoodTV's "Skrippa Bootcamp," a reality show featuring dancers, was last seen meeting Ellington at the Sweet Dream Inn. Authorities have labeled Bennett an "escort," but haven't disclosed the nature of their meeting.

U.S. Marine Willie Ellington faces first-degree murder and possession of child pornography charges. (Lee County Sheriff's Office Alabama)

Investigators treated Bennett's disappearance as a potential homicide due to suspicious circumstances, including missing bedding from the inn where she was last seen, while her car and phone remained. According to Military.com, Ellington's Google search history included queries such as "can someone scream when they're strangled?", "What is the statistic of prostitutes homicides being solved ...", and "How does a dead body look in two days?" He also reportedly attempted to leave town by bus.

Tshey Ronaie Bennett was reported missing Saturday, and her body was found Wednesday. (Escambia County Sheriff's Office)

The Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. (U.S. Navy)

Bennett's body was recovered from a pond in an abandoned area of Mobile, Alabama. The cause of death is yet to be released by the District One Medical Examiner's Office. A friend of Bennett's confirmed on social media that she was a mother and expressed grief over the loss.