A 26-year-old North Idaho woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her uncle's death south of St. Maries, Benewah County officials said.

Melisa R. Bates appeared to have been staying with Robert D. Marek, 43, before he was shot with a handgun and beaten with a metal rod, Benewah County Prosecutor Douglas Payne said Wednesday.

The metal rod has been recovered, but not the handgun, he said. Marek lived nearly eight miles south of St. Maries along Highway 3.

Payne said there was an attempt to dispose of Marek's body by burning it. Marek's identification was confirmed by dental records, he said.

Marek was seen alive Sunday at a grocery store but didn't show up to work Monday for a shift at Stimson Lumber Company's St. Maries manufacturing facility, he said.

Benewah County Sheriff Robert Kirts said he believes the murder occurred Sunday.

Payne said Bates, who lives near Bayview, was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Benewah County court, but that was delayed.

"We have reason to believe she wasn't mentally fit to proceed," Payne said.

She was transferred from Benewah County Jail to the Nez Perce County jail. She will be evaluated within the next 30 days, Payne said.

With Marek's death and the murder last month of 37-year-old Antowyn D. Swiney in Plummer, the county has had two homicides in less than a month.

Prior to that, Payne said in the 17 years he has been prosecutor there had been only two other homicides.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday in St. Maries for the four suspects in the Swiney slaying, he said.