5 chilling details about Tamika Huston's murder

Tamika Huston, an energetic and lively young woman from Spartanburg, South Carolina, disappeared in May 2004, and it took over a year before any remains were found. An investigation into her death resulted in her boyfriend, Christopher Lamont Hampton, being convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case drew national attention toward the tragic nature of her death and the harrowing details surrounding it. ABC's 20/20 will present a detailed report on this case, titled, 20/20 "The Girl Who Looked Like Me," which airs on Friday at 9.00 PM EST.

Below are five chilling details about the murder of Tamika Huston.

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5 shocking facts about Tamika Huston's murder

1) Tamika Huston vanished without a trace

Tamika Huston had been missing from her Spartanburg home since May 2004, but this was not noticed until a June 14 welfare check because she lived alone. Her loved ones suspected foul play immediately because her pregnant pit bull was found alone, having eaten her puppies out of starvation.

This discovery raised concerns regarding Tamika's disappearance because it was understood that she was highly attached to her dog. However, the initial leads revealed little of what was to come.

2) Her car had an important lead

Police discovered her black 1991 Honda abandoned in a nearby apartment complex, on June 20. Concealed in the car was a set of keys, which ultimately proved to be a critical piece of evidence in the investigation.

This led the police to drive down the block to Barksdale Apartments to this young woman's then-boyfriend, Christopher Lamont Hampton. He was already in jail at the time for another unrelated crime, but the evidence in her car contributed to solving the case.

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3) Christopher Lamont Hampton admitted to the crime

As law enforcement narrowed their focus to Christopher Lamont Hampton, they brought him in for interrogation and searched his apartment. Upon conducting a search of his apartment, the investigators obtained blood evidence that matched Tamika's DNA.

This led to him getting charged for her murder in January 2005, after all the pressure mounted. Hampton admitted to the murder at this point and confessed that, in a fit of anger, he threw a burning iron at Tamika during an argument over money, knocking her unconscious. The tragic accident happened at his apartment, and he managed to quickly cover up the crime.

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4) He tried to hide the body twice

After killing Tamika, Christopher Hampton panicked and borrowed a friend's vehicle to dispose of her body. He buried her in a secluded wooded estate off Tyger River Drive in western Spartanburg County. He even put up a cross over the grave using the branches he broke from a tree.

However, the remorse became too much and he went back to his gravesite contemplating reporting himself. Instead, he dug up his victim's body and reburied it in the same location, thinking he might go unnoticed. More than a year later, he led detectives straight to her body after he confessed to the crime.

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5) A tense argument over money ended Tamika's life

The argument that killed Tamika was over money. As Hampton confessed, the argument started when Tamika asked him for money, which he refused. At that time, Hampton was dating another woman, pregnant with his child, and this had strained his relationship with Tamika.

It was in that argument when Tamika asked if this unborn child meant more to him than she did, Hampton snapped. He hurled a red-hot iron in her path, striking her in the head. The blow rendered her unconscious, and in his despair, Hampton resorted to extreme measures.