COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a teen charged in the murder of a 21-year-old college student told police he argued with the woman and panicked before choking her to death.

Gary Jamaricus Smith is accused of killing Marylul Poupart, a junior biology student at Columbus State University. The 15-year-old Smith also faces one count each of theft by taking, felony theft of items from her vehicle and robbery.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports Smith has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was ordered held without bond.

Columbus police say Poupart's body was found Thursday in Smith's family's backyard by his mother. The teen was not home when the body was found. Authorities say Poupart was called to the home earlier that day, where she argued with Smith.