A Connecticut man was arrested this week and charged with murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend, whose body was found in their home earlier this year. Court records reveal a history of domestic violence related to the suspect.

Cole Werhan, 28, was taken into custody Tuesday at his residence in Burlington, Connecticut, on a murder charge in the death of 26-year-old Janina Brooke Murphy. His bond was set at $5 million. Murphy, who grew up in Massachusetts, was discovered deceased in the home on March 29. The Connecticut state medical examiner’s office identified her and ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head. An autopsy showed her body bore bruises in various stages of healing.

According to police reports, Werhan initially told officers that Murphy had fallen down the stairs during an altercation, claiming she was in a bipolar rage after finding deleted text messages on his phone. Instead of calling 911 immediately, Werhan reportedly contacted his parents, who then placed the emergency call. Officers observed Werhan wearing a wet, bloodstained t-shirt; they also noted dried blood on his face and legs, and his right hand was cut and swollen.

Court documents state that Werhan and Murphy had known each other since college and reconnected in January, with Murphy moving in shortly thereafter. The night she died, the couple had reportedly been drinking alcohol and using marijuana. Werhan described waking to Murphy’s anger over discovering texts between him and two other women, during which she allegedly struck her head against a wall and fell down a flight of stairs.

Since Murphy’s death, three additional women have come forward with allegations accusing Werhan of physical assault and death threats, records show. His criminal history includes multiple arrests related to domestic violence dating back nearly a decade, involving previous charges of assault, unlawful restraint, threatening, and disorderly conduct. Some of the victims were family members and partners, with at least two arrests occurring before his relationship with Murphy began in January.

Friends, family, and Murphy’s ex-boyfriend told investigators that while she faced personal struggles as a teenager, including anxiety, self-harm, and medication use, she was not known to be violent. Murphy had graduated from Duxbury High School in 2017, and her mother currently resides in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Werhan remains in custody as the investigation continues. The outcomes of his previous domestic violence cases have not been fully disclosed.