Carrollton and Grapevine police arrested a 38-year-old man last week after his girlfriend’s body was found inside a vehicle on Interstate 35.
Carrollton police and fire officials on July 21 responded to reports of an unconscious person inside a vehicle about 8 a.m. in the 2500 block of southbound I-35E, according to a news release.
Once there, responders found Vera Pitulic, 41, dead inside the vehicle. Grapevine police, who had located Pitulic’s vehicle with license plate reader technology, told officers on scene that she had been reported missing the day before.
Using evidence obtained by both agencies, detectives executed a search warrant at the home of Pitulic’s boyfriend, Donny Benedict, the release said. Police said additional evidence gathered at Benedict’s house resulted in his arrest.
As of Monday, Benedict was being held in the Collin County jail with no bail set, according to jail records. He faces a murder charge.
Jail records also show a charge for assault of a family or household member by impeding breath or circulation issued by the Collin County sheriff’s office.
Plano police and the Texas Department of Public Safety also assisted with the investigation, which remains ongoing.
The Dallas Morning News on Monday requested the incident report and arrest warrant affidavit connected to Pitulic’s death from police but has not yet heard back.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Carrollton police at 972-466-3333 or *247.