A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the July 21 death of his girlfriend after authorities discovered blood evidence and cleaning supplies at his residence, according to an arrest warrant affidavit released Thursday.

Donny Benedict is being held without bail in the Collin County jail, facing charges of murder and assault of a family or household member by impeding breath or circulation, according to jail records and the affidavit. The investigation began after authorities responded on July 20 to the Grapevine apartment of 41-year-old Vera Pitulic, who had been reported missing by friends.

Pitulic’s friends told police she had attended a pool party on July 18 with Benedict, and that the two had argued that night. They said Benedict had accused her of infidelity in multiple messages and expressed hostility toward Pitulic’s best friend’s boyfriend, whom he suspected Pitulic was seeing. Ring camera footage from a neighbor showed Benedict and Pitulic arriving together at her apartment shortly after midnight on July 19, contradicting Benedict’s initial denial of being with her. After viewing the footage, Benedict acknowledged being with Pitulic and said they had argued before parting ways.

The following day, Carrollton police discovered Pitulic deceased in the passenger seat of a Dodge Journey vehicle parked on the shoulder of Interstate 35. The affidavit described numerous injuries on her body consistent with assault, and stated that she had died several hours before being found. Investigators noted a shattered cellphone, as well as blood-positive swimsuit and flip-flops that Benedict had provided images of after initial police contact.

Cellphone data indicated that Pitulic’s phone had traveled from the pool party to Benedict’s home, remaining active until approximately 2 a.m. on July 19. Police obtained and executed a search warrant at Benedict’s Collin County residence, where they found five mops, an empty bleach container in the trash, and two holes in the living room wall at head height. A blood detection reagent revealed presumptive blood presence near the holes, in kitchen and bathroom sinks, and on a bathroom floor, suggesting a thorough cleanup had occurred.

Benedict’s ex-girlfriend also spoke with officers at the residence, describing a prior abusive relationship that ended in June. She said she had returned to his house on July 20 and noticed abnormal behavior, including a broken vehicle window and a hole in the wall, expressing fear that Benedict was capable of harming Pitulic.

Police believe Benedict assaulted Pitulic at his home before abandoning her body on the highway. The case remains under investigation.

Pitulic, originally from Serbia and a mother of two young sons, was a longtime substitute teacher known for her vibrant and welcoming nature. Friends and colleagues from Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District recalled her as a positive presence beloved by students. Her children currently reside in Egypt with their father.

In the aftermath of her death, condolences have poured in on social media, and a GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $33,000 to repatriate her remains to Serbia, in accordance with her family’s wishes. Friends emphasized the importance of remembering Pitulic for her character and the impact she had on those around her rather than the circumstances surrounding her death.