LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man's bond is set at $1 million after he was charged with murder for allegedly killing a woman and dumping her body in the Ohio River.

Anthony Nichols faced a judge from jail Thursday morning. He appeared to be emotional, looking down during most of his arraignment while gripping a rosary in his hands. 

Louisville Metro Police said Nichols, 57, is accused of shooting and killing 53-year-old Arica Brown. Police said her body was found Tuesday morning near Louisville's Cox Park, in the water.

In an arrest citation, police said they were called to Brown's home in Shively for a shooting, but no victim was found inside. Police said they talked to the 911 caller, and Nichols was reportedly heard on the call saying he shot Brown and dumped her body in the river.

The arrest report also states flock cameras show a car Nichols is known to have used enter and leave Cox Park Saturday, Dec. 7. According to LMPD, a search warrant was executed on the car and suspected blood was found around the passenger side.

Nichols is charged with murder, violating a domestic violence order and tampering with physical evidence.

"When you take a look at his criminal history, it is a significant domestic violence history," the prosecutor said during Nichols' arraignment. "He has two prior convictions for violating protective orders. He has seven prior convictions for assault fourth degree domestic violence ..."

Louisville's Center for Women and Families encourages people in domestic violence situations to get protectives orders and also hopes they'll reach out to advocates at the center.

"When somebody files an emergency protective order, the first thing that we need them to understand is this is not a protective shield," said Elizabeth Martin, president of the Center for Women and Families. "It's not a bubble that's going to be put around you. So one of the things that we do is we are safety planning. And we are always safety planning."

She said advocates at the center can be help assist people with safety plans. The center can be reached by calling 1-844-237-2331.

"We support survivors and their families," Martin said. 

The center serves seven counties in Kentucky and two in southern Indiana, serving more than 15,000 people every year.

Martin said she's not aware of any contact with the woman in this investigation, but will look into the database.

"... to see, 'Did we serve this individual?' and, if so, 'Is there anything we could have done differently to save her life?'"

In court, a not guilty plea was entered for Nichols, as well as the one million dollar bond. 

According to the arrest citation, when police detained Nichols at a home in the Russell neighborhood, "he made a spontaneous utterance that it was an accident."

Nichols is scheduled to be back in court Dec. 20. 

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