Texas dad faces murder charge after estranged wife found dead at suburban home: police

A man in Texas was arrested after his estranged wife while their kids were home, according to police.

Jake Bigoni, 37, was taken into custody Wednesday after officers performing a welfare check for his estranged wife, Eliana Bigoni, discovered her dead inside his Plano, Texas, apartment. He was initially booked on a felony abuse of corpse charge before authorities later added a murder charge, police said in a news release.

Authorities initiated the welfare check after one of Eliana's friends reported that she had not appeared for a scheduled breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and could not be reached, according to an arrest warrant obtained by FOX 4. The friend informed authorities that Jake and Eliana Bigoni were separated and that Eliana had been on her way to pick up their 2- and 5-year-old children.

The two were in the process of a divorce when Bigoni was found dead.

Jake Bigoni's mother later called police, saying her son had phoned her and allegedly said, "I have something to tell you. She's dead. We got in a fight and she's dead."

Upon arriving at Jake Bigoni's apartment, observed what appeared to be a large blood stain on his shirt, which he said was the result of cleaning. Eliana Bigoni's body was found in the trunk of a white Hyundai in the apartment's garage, with officials adding she had major damage to her head and face.

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Police said the couple's children were in the apartment during the alleged murder and weren't harmed.

According to the report, Jake Bigoni allegedly has a history of violent behavior.

Jake Bigoni is being held in jail with no bond.