After an Ohio mother’s boyfriend initially claimed her death was an overdose, police are now saying she was the victim of domestic violence.
Mayzio Arnold, 25, was arrested Wednesday and charged with the murder of 24-year-old Deandrea Funchess. She was found unresponsive at the home the two shared back in February.
According to a statement from the Cincinnati Police, Arnold is responsible for the injuries that lead to Funchess’ death. The beating was so severe that the ligaments of Funchess’ spinal column were detached from the base of her skull. The injury is known as an occipital dislocation.
Arnold initially told investigators and Funchess’ family that she had died from a drug overdose. The medical examiner concluded her death was the result of homicidal violence.
The nursing home workers’ family had no idea Arnold was involved in her death and continued speaking to him. Bernadette Davis, Funchess’ mother, told WXIX she found out he was a suspect when he was arrested.
Davis said that Arnold’s claims her daughter died of a drug overdose never sat right with her. Now she grapples with knowing she spoke to him for months after her daughter’s death at his hands.
“As far as I know about him, he seemed to be ok,” Davis told the outlet. “The kids loved him. […]They had issues like any other couple, but I’d never in a million years have thought that this would have been the outcome of that situation.”
Arnold is being held on a $750,000 bail. His case is scheduled to go before a grand jury on July 25.
The investigation into Funchess’ death remains ongoing, and the Homicide Unit is asking anyone with information to contact them at 513-352-3542.
