A Bessemer man was formally charged with murder Thursday in the death of a Gardendale teenager.

Dustin Blake Legrande, 20, is accused of killing 17-year-old Chase Woods of Gardendale. Legrande has been transferred to the Jefferson County Jail. His bond was set at $75,000.

Woods’ body was discovered Wednesday in an abandoned strip mine off of Pumpkin Center Cuf-Off near Quinton in Walker County, according to a press release from the Gardendale Police Department.

On Wednesday, Police Chief Mike Walker confirmed Woods was killed at an address on Robin Avenue in Gardendale at about 7 a.m. Thursday morning. His body was then moved to Walker County.

Walker said he would not reveal specific details about the case, but said a “firearm was used in the murder.”

The murder investigation, which was formally launched Sunday, began as a missing persons case on Friday. Walker said Woods’ family had not been able to contact him.

“The department started hearing rumors there had been a possible homicide Thursday morning,” he said. “We heard so many different rumors we were unable to determine if there was any validity to them.”

He said based on information received over the weekend, the department formally launched the murder investigation. The department received aid from other cities in finding persons of interest in the case.

Walker said Legrande was picked up in Brighton and brought to Gardendale for questioning. Authorities were able to locate Woods’ body based on information provided by Legrande.

Walker said solving the case would not have been possible without the hard work of Gardendale investigators and officers. He said the department also received assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.