FOREST LAKE — A 27-year-old Forest Lake man is accused of killing a woman and leaving her body in his apartment for three days.

Lauren Mason Grove Lynch was charged Monday with second-degree murder in Washington County District Court. Police went to his apartment Friday after a foul odor was reported in the building.

A criminal complaint says Lynch refused to allow officers inside and said his girlfriend had recently moved in and was at work. The 36-year-old woman is identified in the complaint by the initials “G.A.V.”

According to the complaint, Lynch later came out of the apartment and told officers “she’s inside.” The complaint says Lynch told investigators that he and his girlfriend got into an argument Sept. 8 and he smothered her with a pillow and stabbed her.

It wasn’t immediately known if Lynch has an attorney.