Polk County officials have charged a man with the murder of another Polk resident whose body was found inside his home Feb. 4.

According to Polk County Sheriff’s Office detective Joe Price, Chad Warner, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of David Gardner, 42.

“During the course of the investigation, it was learned Gardner had been staying at Chad Warner’s home. Warner took Gardner back to his home and during an altercation at the residence, Warner struck Gardner and injured him severely,” Price noted.

Gardner was a resident of Farner, which is in eastern Polk County.

“Warner was questioned and gave a confession to this criminal act,” according to Price.

Friends of Gardner’s reported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office he had not been seen in a couple of weeks and deputies were dispatched to check the residence.

According to area media reports, a lock was breached to gain entry to a garage where law enforcement found Gardner’s body. Gardner appeared to have been struck in the head. Forensic evidence was collected and sent to the lab for examination.

The fact a lock was used to secure the building from outside was an indicator of possible foul play regarding Gardner’s death.

Gardner was a former owner of a small business which he shut down after suffering injuries during a car crash several years ago, reports indicated.

Warner is incarcerated at the Polk County Jail and is currently being held without bond, according to jail records.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is aiding Polk detectives in the case, according to Kristen Helm of the TBI information office.