HYDE PARK, Vt. -- The husband of a Johnson, Vt., woman missing since last week has confessed to killing her, according to the Lamoille County Sheriff.

Edgar Whitney had been described as a suspect in the case earlier Wednesday, the same day authorities found the body of a woman thought to be Jodie Whitney.

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Murray's Father Hopes For Best

Marcoux said there has still been no official identification of the body. Deputy Sheriff Andrew Glover said an autopsy on the body is scheduled for Thursday. Officials from the state crime lab would also continue their search of the Whitney's house, he said.

Whitney's case has added to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of two other women in the last several months. Authorities were considering whether it was linked to the disappearances of Maura Murray, 21, and Brianna Matiland, 17. Both women have been missing for months.

In March, Maitland disappeared after leaving work in Montgomery, Vt. On Feb. 9, Murray vanished after a minor single-car crash on Route 112 in Woodsville, N.H.

"There is still an awareness in the community," Woodsville resident Earl Brock said. "We have not forgotten about them. Having two daughters myself, my heart goes out to all of the families. All we can do is hope and pray."

On Friday, New Hampshire state police will meet with authorities in Vermont to compare cases. They met several times prior to Whitney's disappearance to keep each agency up to date on the investigations.

After months with no new evidence related to Murray's disappearance, her father said he hasn't given up hope while he continues the search.

"I start from where she was last seen and branch outwards," Fred Murray said. "I don't want to leave the weekend and kick myself saying, 'If only I'd checked around that corner.' I want to exhaust every single possibility."

Authorities have not given a cause of death of the body found in Vermont Wednesday.