CLAYTON — Christopher S. Porter, a 37-year-old Smyrna man, was arrested by Delaware State Police on Wednesday night for a murder that took place in August, said police spokesman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper.

On Aug. 20, at around 2:40 p.m., the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit responded to assist the Clayton Police Department after a deceased male had been discovered in his residence in the 200 block of South Rodney Street in Clayton.

Master Cpl. Pepper said a police investigation determined that a family member of Richard L. George Jr., 65, of Clayton, had gone to the residence to check on him.

When they arrived, Mr. George’s 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis was discovered missing from the driveway and the side door to the home unlocked.

Once inside, Mr. George was found dead on the living room floor with visible trauma to the upper body, according to Master Cpl. Pepper.

Mr. George’s body was turned over to the Division of Forensic Science for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause and manner of death. The cause of death was found to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation that occurred during a homicide.

Detectives collected evidence from the crime scene and submitted the items to the Division of Forensic Science for DNA testing.

A search of the State DNA Database was conducted, and a positive match was made with the known profile of Mr. Porter. Through additional investigative leads, detectives were able to link Mr. Porter to the murder.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Mr. Porter on Tuesday, and he was taken into custody without incident by troopers on Wednesday night. He was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 3 in Camden, where he was charged with the felonies of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.

Mr. Porter was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown on a $320,000 cash bond.

Detectives are still searching for the victim’s vehicle, a gray 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis with the Delaware registration PC389915.

Anyone with information regarding the vehicle or the investigation is asked to contact Det. Daniel Grassi with the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit by calling 302-365-8441.