A Washington man in custody for the presumed death of a woman missing since 2009 confessed to her murder but has since stepped back on his comments, according to reports.

The Olympian reported that Eric Lee Roberts, 53, called 911 Tuesday to confess to the murder of his former neighbor and coworker, Nancy Moyer. Court documents charged that Roberts told the dispatcher that he’s admitting guilt now because he was “tired of holding it inside.”

Authorities accused Roberts of confessing multiple times, telling a detective that he accidentally strangled Moyer with a scarf during “rough sex.” However, he recanted his statements on Wednesday when police searched his Tenino home, according to the news station.

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“Roberts said he did not know why he said that he had killed Nancy Moyer,” documents stated.

Roberts reportedly spoke with detectives at his home a day before recanting his confession. They walked to a fire pit on Roberts’ property, where he said, “I don’t really want to incriminate myself any further, but if I was going to get rid of a body on my property, it would be right there,” according to KIRO.

KOMO reported that detectives have been searching Roberts’ home for the past two days and have sent evidence to the Washington State Patrol lab for analysis.

Moyer worked for the State Department of Ecology and was reportedly last seen dropping off a coworker while on her way home on March 6, 2009. Moyer’s estranged husband was said to have reported her missing two days later when he went to drop off their daughters at her home and found the front door open and her car in the driveway.

Detectives determined foul play was involved early on in their investigation. Moyer’s husband reportedly passed a polygraph and wasn’t considered a suspect in her disappearance and presumed death.

Roberts is currently facing second-degree murder charges. His bail was set at $1.5 million.

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[Featured image: Nancy Moyer/KING-TV video screengrab]