A 17-year-old North Carolina boy has been charged with killing his mother after an investigation that stretched more than a year.

A Town of Cary news release sent out this weekend said Arnav Uppalapati was arrested and charged with murder in the death of his mother. Authorities say he has been charged as an adult. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Emergency personnel recovered Nalini Tellaprolu’s body from the garage of her home on December 17, 2015. Arnav Uppalapati had called 911 to say he found her there.

The News & Observer reports the 51-year-old mother of two worked at Duke Medical Center. An autopsy report showed that Tellaprolu was strangled and left in her car.