COQUILLE - Before her mother called the police Monday, before most people knew she was missing, Patrick Lee Horath helped his family search for Jayme Austin.

Less than 82 hours later, Coos County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Horath �” Austin’s brother-in-law �” and charged him with her murder.

Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier said the 45-year-old attempted to lend a hand again in the search on Thursday, but instead met with police. Early that evening they arrested him, and soon after, he pointed them toward Austin’s shallow grave up Middle Creek Road.

The DA refused to reveal whether the Fairview resident made a confession. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

During a Friday afternoon press conference with Sheriff Andy Jackson in Coquille, Frasier unveiled details about the grave, Horath’s arrest and other information in the murder case.

The 31-year-old, who had been missing since Nov. 9, was buried in mountainous terrain off the winding road about 17 miles from her Fairview home. Investigators found Austin’s body in a grave about 20 to 30 yards from the paved road on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property. Frasier said she had been covered in dirt and rocks.

“You would not be able to see it from the road,” the DA said.

Jackson was relieved that investigators found Austin’s body so quickly.

“We didn’t have to carry this on for some time,” Jackson said.

Investigators believe Austin died on Monday, but Frasier couldn’t say definitively. He would not discuss whether a weapon was used and said it was too early to say whether Austin had been sexually assaulted.

“I’m not going to comment on the condition of the body,” Frasier said.

An autopsy is tentatively set for today, as long as a Medford-based forensic pathologist is available. The cause of Austin’s death won’t be determined until then, Frasier said.

Austin’s mother, Cindy Gisholt, first reported her missing on Monday afternoon. That morning, the mother of two called Gisholt and her boss to say the water at her Fairview home wasn’t working. She is believed to have gone two doors down to her mother’s to take a shower before going to work. She hadn’t been seen nor heard from since.

Horath lived with his wife �” Austin’s sister, Alyssa �” in a home between Austin’s and their mother’s, on the family’s property. He worked at Farr’s True Value in Coos Bay. Aside from a traffic ticket in 1995, Horath has no criminal history in Coos County, a circuit court spokeswoman said. Frasier refused to discuss whether Horath and Austin had any conflicts, nor what physical evidence was found on the man’s body. He did not believe drugs were involved in the incident and would not discuss a possible motive.

“Based on evidence and information that came to our attention, we were able to make that arrest last evening,” Frasier said.

Investigators first considered Horath to be a person of interest after speaking with him on Monday. Frasier said they had some concerns.

But Tuesday, Horath went to work and again on Wednesday.

“We asked him if he would voluntarily come and talk with us,” Frasier said.

On Thursday morning, the suspect drove himself to the Oregon State Police office in Empire for an interview.

By 7 p.m., deputies took him into custody.

Just before Friday’s press conference, Frasier talked with Austin’s family, confirming they’d found her body.

“I think deep down the family knew,” he said. “Obviously, they’re grieving for their daughter.

“At first, they were a bit shocked,” Frasier said of Horath’s arrest. “But then they came to accept it.”

Jackson and Frasier said they were grateful to law enforcement in the area for assisting in the case.

“Every agency in the county, except for Powers, contributed manpower to this situation,” Frasier said. “It really helped in solving this crime.”