A Texas family’s already difficult separation took a devastating turn when a woman was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ inside the Plano apartment of her estranged husband, who has since been charged with her murder.

Jake Bigoni, 37, was arrested after police conducted a welfare check on his estranged wife, Eliana Bigoni, 34. The couple were in the middle of a divorce and shared two young children, ages 2 and 5.

A Welfare Check Raises the Alarm
The investigation began after Eliana failed to show up for a breakfast appointment at 8:30 a.m. and could not be reached by phone.

A friend told police that Eliana and Jake had separated and that Eliana was expected to pick up their children that morning. Because of concerns surrounding the situation, police were asked to check on her.

When officers arrived at Bigoni’s Plano apartment, they reportedly noticed a large stain on his shirt. Bigoni allegedly told investigators that it came from cleaning.

But police later determined that the substance was blood.

Investigators subsequently found what authorities described as a significant amount of blood and blood spatter inside the apartment. Eliana’s body was discovered inside the trunk of a white Hyundai parked in the building’s garage. Police said she had suffered severe injuries to her head and face.

A Disturbing Phone Call
Perhaps one of the most troubling details emerged from a phone call Bigoni allegedly made to his mother shortly before police arrived.

According to investigators, he told her that he had something to tell her and allegedly said that Eliana was ᴅᴇᴀᴅ following a fight between them.

Concerned by what she had heard, Bigoni’s mother contacted police, helping authorities understand the seriousness of the situation.

Their Children Were Inside
Even more heartbreaking, investigators said the couple’s two young children were inside the apartment at the time of the alleged killing.

The children were not physically harmed and were removed from the residence while police continued their investigation. Authorities have not publicly speculated about exactly what the children may have witnessed.

For investigators, the fact that two very young children were present has added another deeply troubling dimension to the case.

A Marriage That Was Already Falling Apart
Eliana and Jake were reportedly separated and going through divorce proceedings when the tragedy occurred.

Police were also aware of concerns involving Bigoni’s alleged history of violent behavior, according to the arrest documents and local reporting.

Bigoni was initially arrested on a felony charge related to abuse of a corpse. Authorities later obtained a murder warrant and added the murder charge. He remains in custody without bond.

The official cause of Eliana’s death had not yet been released by the Collin County Medical Examiner at the time of the reports.

As the investigation continues, Eliana’s loved ones are left grieving a mother whose life ended during a period that was already marked by separation and uncertainty.

And for her two young children, the aftermath of that morning will be something they and their family must carry with them for years to come.

Bigoni is accused of murder and remains legally presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: New York Post