Bond granted for man charged with tampering with evidence in case of woman found inside U-Haul box

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man charged in connection with a woman's body found in a U-Haul box at an apartment complex parking lot in southwest Houston was granted bond Wednesday morning.

The video above is from a previous story.

Miguel Angel Moreno was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence in the death of a woman found in the 7000 block of Bissonnet Street on April 17.

On Wednesday, the 60-year-old's bond was set at $500,000.

SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: Houston police found dead body inside U-Haul box outside apartment in southwest Houston

Prosecutors obtained surveillance footage showing a man wheeling the box on a dolly and dropping it off. Police later identified the man in the video as Moreno and took him in for questioning.

Officers said they found the box contained a Hispanic woman with severe injuries to her head and neck leading them to believe an ax or machete was used. In addition, they said facial bones were broken and her neck appeared to be as well.

"I couldn't comment on his motivation as to why he came back to the scene," HPD Detective Matthew Hughey said at the scene Sunday.

Moreno was listed on the apartment lease with a woman. It is unclear if she was the victim of the brutal death. Moreno's relation to the victim has also not been confirmed.

The medical examiner's office has yet to identify the 35-year-old woman but has ruled she died by homicide with blunt head trauma.

Authorities asked Moreno if they could search his apartment and were originally told 'yes' but he later denied access, according to prosecutors.

With a search warrant, investigators were able to get inside and found a mattress that appeared to be covered in biological material wrapped in plastic and a green sheet, which was consistent with what was around the woman's body in the box. Blood was also found in the kitchen, the bathroom, and the living room.

When asked about his involvement in the woman's death, Moreno told police that someone broke into his home a couple of days before and brought the large U-Haul box into his apartment. He said it smelled bad, noticed blood on the bottom of the box, and believed there was a dead body inside. When officers asked why he didn't call 911, Moreno said he did not want to get in trouble and removed the box.

The prosecutor asked for a $150,000 bond for the citizen of Mexico. The judge instead set it at $500,000 and will require him to be on house arrest if he is released.

Moreno has lived in Houston for 25 years. He has three kids, two of which are minors, and has been steadily employed as a painter. In court, he asked the judge to overlook house arrest because he claimed his family depends on him financially.

The Mexican citizen's bond requirements require him to refrain from using or possessing guns or weapons. In addition, Moreno must surrender his passport and travel documents. A judge is requiring him to wear a GPS monitor and must remain in Harris County or surrounding counties.

No one has been charged with the woman's murder.

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