Houston Man Accused of Fatally Shooting His Girlfriend, Hiding Body in Shallow Grave

Law enforcement officials said a Houston man has been arrested after he allegedly fatally shot his girlfriend and then placed her body in a shallow grave.

Officers recently found the body of 45-year-old Jennifer Ramirez, according to the Houston Police Department.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences positively identified the victim and determined she died from a gunshot wound, officials said.

After further investigation, police identified 31-year-old Derek Fischer as the primary suspect in the case.

Fischer and the victim were in a dating relationship when the suspect allegedly killed her, according to court documents obtained by KTRK-TV.

On April 27, detectives located Fischer and he was booked into the Harris County Jail on murder and tampering with evidence charges, officials said.

Authorities said Fischer is also serving deferred adjudication for an unrelated family assault case. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 30.

Family speaking with KTRK-TV claimed the victim struggled with addiction and had been in and out of jail.

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"There was so much hope in the family that she would be OK," said Tabitha Galvan, Ramirez’s sister, "that she would overcome the addiction and come back home and rebuild her relationships with her children and her husband."