The Niles man who was arrested for murder last week after he confessed to police that he killed his girlfriend has stated that the crime was influenced by an alleged agreement with the victim for him to kill her and then himself.

James Huffman, 52, was charged with open murder Tuesday in Berrien County Trial Court, after allegedly killing Angela Cluver, 52. If found guilty, Huffman could face up to life in prison for the crime.

Police suspect that Cluver’s cause of death was strangulation. Cluver’s body has been taken to Western Michigan University for an autopsy. According to Detective Lt. Chad Mitchell, authorities have not yet received the autopsy report.

Police were tipped off to the crime last week when Huffman went to the Niles Law Enforcement Center on the morning of July 24 and said he had a crime to confess. He proceeded to tell detectives that he murdered his girlfriend of 12 years at their residence, 996 S. 14th St.

Officers found Cluver deceased at the location. Her body was located in the laundry room wrapped in a blanket. Her head, mouth and waist were wrapped in duct tape, according to court documents. Initially, police could not identify the body due to its advanced state of decay. Her identity was confirmed with her fingerprints.

Huffman said the crime stemmed from an “agreement” that the couple had that he would kill her and then kill himself, according to a complaint and warrant document filed by the Niles Police Department.

Huffman told police that at approximately 7 p.m. Friday, July 21 he strangled Cluver with his hands in their master bedroom. He then said he attempted several times to kill himself. The documents did not provide details on how Huffman tried to kill himself.

Huffman has also alleged that he left a letter at the residence confessing to the crime and describing what he did to Cluver.

Mitchell said that authorities did obtain a letter from the residence. He could not describe its contents.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the crime.

“There is a lot of follow up left to do,” Mitchell said. “It is still open. The police are checking into all leads and verifying all information that we do have.”

Huffman’s bond has been set at $1 million. A pre-exam is expected to take place in the days to come.