Man released from jail weeks ago strangled his girlfriend to death, cops say

A Texas man released on bond weeks ago is now accused of strangling his girlfriend to death on her living room couch.

The body of Jennifer Garrett, 29, was allegedly five feet from the front door in Texarkana, Texas, when two friends went to check on her after she didn't show up for work on Aug. 12, according to a police probable cause affidavit obtained by the Texarkana Gazette.

Travis Alston Turner, 27, allegedly cracked open the door and told Garrett’s friends she hadn’t been home since the night before, even though her car was parked at the residence, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

The friends parked nearby and waited until Turner left before going into home, the Texarkana Gazette reported. The friends found Garrett dead on the couch and called police, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

Turner returned to the home while police were on scene and was taken into custody, the Texarkana Gazette reported.

Garrett’s body showed signs of strangulation, including broken blood vessels in her eyes, according to the affidavit obtained by the Texarkana Gazette.

Crime scene investigators observed a scratch on Garrett’s right jaw and blood in her right nostril, as well as bruising on both sides of her chest between her neck and her breasts, which could indicate Turner sat on top of her during the crime, the Texarkana Gazette reported.

Investigators estimated Garrett had been dead for between four and 12 hours, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

Turner has been arrested several times this year on other charges and was on bail during the alleged murder.

Turner faces facing a charge of battery and two counts of terroristic acts in Miller County, Arkansas, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

Turner allegedly shot at a house, injuring one, on Feb. 26, according to court documents obtained by the Texarkana Gazette. He was released from the Miller County Jail on March 4 after posting a $50,000 bond.

Turner was charged with a misdemeanor family violence assault on July 25 in Bowie County, which allegedly involved an immediate family member, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

He was released from the Bowie County Jail after posting a $5,000 bond on July 27, a little more than two weeks before he allegedly strangled Garrett to death, the Texarkana Gazette reported.

Turner is currently being held in the Bowie County Jail with bail set at $3 million, according to the Texarkana Gazette.