Texas woman allegedly held prisoner and killed by estranged boyfriend found dead under his house
03/01/2022 12:39 pm PST
FORT WORTH, Texas (TCD) -- A 24-year-old man with a criminal past stands accused of killing his estranged girlfriend who went missing in mid-February.
According to a press release from the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, on Jan. 10, Valerian Osteen was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful restraint. He was released a day later on $15,000 bond, the District Attorney’s Office says. Osteen was reportedly ordered to GPS leg monitoring, and he could not contact the victim, 26-year-old Marissa Grimes. Osteen is allegedly Grimes’ estranged boyfriend.
The District Attorney’s Office says Osteen already had five prior felony convictions when his bond was set for the two offenses, including a misdemeanor conviction for terroristic threat and other misdemeanor convictions.
According to KDFW-TV, family members told police they had not seen Grimes since Feb. 12, and she was officially reported missing on Feb. 16.
According to court documents obtained by KDFW, Grimes was seen crying with Osteen on Feb. 13, and a neighbor said she appeared upset and had mascara running down her face. The neighbor allegedly went to visit Osteen the next day, but Grimes was not present.
According to KDFW, Grimes planned to leave the area and rented a U-Haul truck. The truck was reportedly parked at Osteen’s house for several days and was later found abandoned at a park.
On Feb. 23, the District Attorney’s Office says Osteen’s GPS monitor lost power and a warrant for his arrest was issued. According to KDFW, a search warrant was executed at Osteen’s home that day. During the search, Grimes’ decomposing body was reportedly located wrapped in blankets and tarp underneath Osteen’s home.
The medical examiner told KDFW Grimes died from blunt force trauma to the head. Additionally, she reportedly suffered fractures to the nose and ribs. Authorities reportedly believe she was held captive before she was killed. According to KDFW, because he is a convicted felon, Osteen was not allowed to have the gun he allegedly used to hold Grimes captive.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Osteen remains held in the Tarrant County Jail without bond. He faces capital murder charges.
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