A West St. Paul man is facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend in early August.

A Dakota County grand jury indicted Marc A. Bakambia, 28, late Thursday night on charges of first-degree murder involving domestic abuse and three charges of second-degree murder — murder with intent to kill while committing a felony and while committing domestic abuse.

Prosecutors believe Dorothy Ann Redd, 24, was killed on either Aug. 9 or 10 in her West St. Paul apartment. Investigators say text messages show that Redd had recently ended her relationship with Bakambia.

Bakambia also was charged Aug. 8 with domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call. In that Aug. 6 incident, he allegedly attempted to take Redd's car while he was drunk. When she wouldn't let him, he pulled her out of the car and dragged her by her hair, court documents say.

Documents also state that Redd told her mother that she was afraid Bakambia would kill her after that incident. But Redd borrowed money to pay Bakambia's bail on the abuse charge, and a friend told police that she also picked him up from jail on Aug. 8.

On Aug. 10, Redd's mother tried several times to call her daughter and then went to Redd's apartment, where she found Redd's car gone and her body on her bed.

Bakambia was arrested Aug. 13 for violating the no-contact order after police learned the pair had met up at a Wal-Mart days earlier. He had several of Redd's credit cards with him, but said he had not seen her for days. He changed his story several times.

According to court documents, a search of Bakambia's phone found a photo of Bakambia lying next to Redd, who was apparently dead. He was crying.

He was previously charged with second-degree intentional murder in Redd's death. He will make his first court appearance Oct. 20.

Erin Adler • 952-746-3283