CHINA GROVE, TX – Authorities in a rural town near San Antonio have charged a woman with murder after her boyfriend was found beaten and left for dead in a makeshift shelter on church property, prompting a complex investigation into a violent encounter and efforts to destroy evidence.

Police arrested Abigail Molina, 32, on Thursday, more than two weeks after Gilbert Parker, 64, was discovered unresponsive inside a garden shed at the Old Path Baptist Church in China Grove. Emergency responders arrived at the scene on Jan. 18 after a 911 call and found Parker partially unclothed and covered with dried blood.

Parker, who was living in the converted shed, was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to another facility. Despite brief periods of consciousness, he was never able to describe what had happened. He died on Jan. 20. An autopsy later determined he sustained devastating head injuries, including a skull fracture and internal bleeding, believed to be caused by multiple blunt force blows.

Investigators soon focused on Molina, who had been in a relationship with Parker. The couple was reported to have argued frequently, and according to acquaintances, Parker was described as “more involved and possessive.” Authorities say Molina contacted police the day after the incident, insisting she had acted in self-defense during an altercation, but declined to provide specifics.

In the days following Parker’s death, detectives noted several of his belongings were missing from the scene, including his cellphone, wallet, and a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. Witnesses alleged that certain church members tried to clean up blood and remove other items from the shed, potentially tampering with evidence.

The missing truck surfaced near the home of one of Molina’s friends, authorities reported. Investigators say Molina attempted to alter its appearance by spray-painting and sanding it, and had evidence of blood washed away at a car wash, before selling the vehicle in Houston for $300.

On Feb. 1, police received a tip from an individual who claimed a relative had previously dated Molina and possessed inside knowledge of the altercation. The next day, another tip led officers to a storm drain where they recovered a hammer with a missing claw—a detail the medical examiner said was consistent with Parker’s fatal skull injury.

Further interviews uncovered that Molina allegedly confided in an ex-boyfriend shortly after the incident, recounting that Parker hit her before she “blacked out” and responded by repeatedly striking him with a hammer. Court documents indicate Molina evaded clear explanations when confronted by investigators, only offering a vague account of her final meeting with Parker days before the attack.

Authorities ultimately charged Molina with first-degree murder, as well as theft and evidence tampering. She was booked into the Bexar County jail following her arrest.

Parker, who friends and family described as a vibrant presence with a passion for music, was mourned in his obituary following his death.

Officials continue to review the actions of individuals who may have interfered with the initial crime scene and say the investigation remains ongoing.