29-year-old's bonds total $180K in Spring Branch-area alleged shooting death of former girlfriend

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Police have charged a 29-year-old man with murder nearly a week after his former girlfriend was found shot to death in her Spring Branch apartment.

Records show Edwin Gerado Galdamez-Alas also faces a count of tampering or fabricating physical evidence in connection with 39-year-old Bessy Ayala's killing.

He was arrested on Thursday, about four days after Ayala's body was discovered by her family who told ABC13 that they hadn't heard from her for several hours on Sunday.

Court documents only describe Galdamez-Alas and Ayala as former dating partners. Investigators allege he shot Ayala with a firearm and then tried to hide the weapon.

Records didn't make a motive clear in the case. He's due in the 248th District Court on Monday, April 17. He's in jail on bonds totaling $180,000.

Eyewitness News spoke with Ayala's family a couple of days after police were called to the 1300 block of Afton Street.

Investigators said the suspect killed the woman and stole her car.

Ayala's cousin told ABC13 that she and other family members, including one of Ayala's four children, went to the apartment Sunday evening. When they entered the apartment, they saw signs of a struggle in the living room.

"The hallway going into the (bedroom), there was blood outside, and (her 12-year-old son) opened the door. He just ran outside," Stefani Cruz, the victim's cousin, said.

After her son screamed, Ayala's brother found her dead on her bedroom floor with several gunshot wounds in the chest.

Ayala's family said she and her mother immigrated from Honduras in part because of her faith in the criminal justice system.

SEE MORE: Woman's brother finds her shot to death inside apartment in Spring Branch area, family tells ABC13