A man accused of killing a woman by beating her with a piece of furniture, appeared in court Monday.

49-year-old Jeffrey Rodrick of Augusta is charged with felony murder.

He stood mute in Eau Claire County Court Monday and the court entered a not guilty plea.

He's accused of beating up Kathryn Padilla who later died from complications.

Assistant District Attorney Emily Long says she is still waiting for the autopsy reports, but the prosecution believes the beating led to Padilla’s death

Investigators say Rodrick was a member of a religious group and lived with Padilla.

When investigators spoke to her in the hospital, she told them Rodrick attacked her several times.