PARKS, Ark.—A Parks man faces a first-degree murder charge after prosecutors say he kicked and beat his wife to death.

Police found Phillip Holloway, 59, cradling the body of his wife Erma Holloway and crying near a pond in Parks on Wednesday. Investigators initially charged Holloway with battery.

Prosecutor Tom Tatum says Holloway later acknowledged getting into a fight with his wife Tuesday night.

An autopsy found Erma Holloway died from blunt force trauma. Tatum says Holloway told investigators he kicked his wife repeatedly during the fight.