In Massachusetts, a man has been charged with fatally shooting his mother after purportedly declaring he would inherit her house whether she was “dead or alive,” according to law enforcement. When authorities discovered her, her face was covered with paper towels and her body wrapped in a comforter.

During Anthony Nunez-Romano’s court arraignment on Monday, Assistant District Attorney Paige Timko noted signs of rigor mortis, as reported by local ABC station WCVB. The 26-year-old stands accused of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and altering a firearm’s serial number following the alleged killing of his 55-year-old mother, Dominga Romano, at her Methuen home on December 29th.

“Her body was cold to the touch,” Timko remarked.

Family members and witnesses informed police that Nunez-Romano had been diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia and was reportedly fixated on the idea of inheriting his mother’s property. Romano, a Spanish teacher at a nearby school, was remembered by those close to her as a “really good woman” in interviews with WCVB and other local news sources.

“It can’t be. It just can’t be,” a family friend recounted feeling upon learning of Romano’s death. Officers discovered her body during a welfare check at her residence, as per the police report.

While there, Nunez-Romano allegedly told officers that his mother was shot through a window. A gun was later found inside a kitchen drawer, as well as spent shell casings near Nunez-Romano’s wallet, according to prosecutors.

Romano was found on the second floor of her house, where Nunez-Romano also lived. She had gunshot wounds to her hip and neck.

During the investigation, family and witnesses described Nunez-Romano as someone who had a history of acting “aggressive” and “unstable.” A cousin alleged that his obsession with his mother’s home resulted in him pressuring her to transfer ownership to him, local NBC affiliate WBTS reports.

Family told the Spanish television station Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra that they hadn’t heard from Romano since Saturday before the wellness check was conducted Monday. They reported being nervous that Nunez-Romano had done something to her.

At his arraignment, a relative was caught on camera shouting at Nunez-Romano as he was in the courtroom. “Yo Anthony, what’s up? What’s up?!” the person screamed, according to WCVB.

Nunez-Romano pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 20. He was ordered held without bail.