A man from Florida, who initially claimed his missing girlfriend might have been detained by immigration officials, now faces charges for her murder.

Saul Garcia Gonzalez, aged 40, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 37-year-old Nerida Martel. Her body, discovered on October 11 in a canal just a short distance from their home, showed evidence of a gunshot wound to the head.

The Miami-Dade Police Department released a statement on Thursday, saying, “The subject reported the victim missing days before she was discovered,” adding that their homicide detectives, through thorough investigation, identified Gonzalez as the perpetrator.

Authorities apprehended Gonzalez at a shopping center on Wednesday. Local NBC affiliate WTVJ reported the arrest, which was captured on surveillance footage. The video depicts multiple officers surrounding Gonzalez, with at least one officer visibly armed.

Gonzalez had initially reported Martel’s disappearance on October 6. Court records obtained by the local independent news outlet WPLG indicate Gonzalez claimed he had dropped off their 2-year-old daughter at daycare while Martel was supposed to arrange her own transportation to work—a statement that seemingly conflicted with what he had told a family friend.

“[Gonzalez] told the family friend that he believed the victim was possible in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel,” a criminal filing says, according to WPLG. He also allegedly told friends conflicting stories about when he had last seen Martel.

Investigators said that some of Martel’s own actions prior to her death indicated that she was trying to get out of the relationship, and that she had told family members that Gonzalez was “verbally abusive” toward her.

“The victim had reached out to a friend seeking a place to stay only for her and her daughter, which indicates that the victim was attempting to leave the defendant and end their relationship,” the filing says.

Cellphone records also tipped investigators off to Gonzalez’s alleged wrongdoing. According to the arrest statement, Martel’s cellphone was at the couple’s home when Gonzalez dropped their daughter off at day care — but it was soon moved to the location where the victim’s body was eventually discovered.

“The defendant’s device then traveled back to the canal where the victim’s body was discovered,” the arrest report said. “The defendant’s device stayed near the canal traveling around it, until he drove back to his residence. Moments later, both of the devices traveled together to the east side of the canal … the victim’s device was then turned off.”

Gonzalez’s device then stayed stationary for a few hours before ultimately moving to another residence, the statement said, according to WPLG.

Investigators noted that “the evidence collected in this case refutes all of the statements that the defendant provided” to witnesses and law enforcement.

“The evidence also showed that the defendant was never at a bus stop dropping off the victim and that he did not go straight to work after he dropped off their daughter,” the arrest report adds.

A witness to Gonzalez’s arrest told WTVJ that the man was known to visit the area with his daughter, whose day care is nearby.

“He always came alone with the little girl,” the witness told the station. “He was normal, easy to get along with. He was never disrespectful. He was pleasant. He would come by and would always say good morning. He was always very attentive.”

She said that not too long after, the Department of Children and Families came to pick up the daughter at a day care nearby.

“The little girl is what worries me the most. Her mother has passed away, and now her father is now in jail,” the employee said.

Gonzalez was denied bond and is pending his next court date.

Online records show that Gonzalez is in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.