In a chilling incident out of Texas, a man stands accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend while she slept, subsequently attempting to conceal the crime by placing her remains in trash bags before stashing them in a plastic barrel. This gruesome act reportedly involved the coerced assistance of his nephew in disposing of the evidence.

Jesus Varela, aged 48, is facing serious allegations from Harris County prosecutors, who claim he forced his nephew to aid in the concealment of the body of Christelrose Angel Ramirez, whom Varela allegedly murdered earlier this month. This disturbing case has been spotlighted by local news outlet ABC affiliate KTRK.

During a recent probable cause hearing, it was revealed that Varela allegedly used intimidation tactics on his nephew, threatening him and asserting that he had already committed one murder and was willing to commit another. This assertion came as Varela reportedly grabbed his nephew’s shirt, as detailed by the presiding judge.

According to the charges, the tragic events unfolded on December 1st at the couple’s residence in Independence Heights. After allegedly killing Ramirez, Varela is said to have compelled his nephew to help not only with the disposal of her body but also with removing the bed on which the fatal shooting occurred, as outlined in court documents obtained by Law&Crime.

Investigators reportedly discovered blood throughout the bedroom shared by Varela and Ramirez, with traces found on the ceiling and headboard, painting a grim picture of the scene.

“They (investigators) said she was asleep and he shot her while she was asleep and then started bagging her up,” Ramirez’s father, Ricardo Ramirez, told NBC affiliate KPRC.

Varela allegedly placed Ramirez inside a trash bag and then wrapped three more trash bags around it. He then stuffed the bags into the barrel and dumped it with his nephew’s help in a wooded area in northwest Houston, according to prosecutors. The two men disposed of the bed in a nearby apartment complex.

“She didn’t deserve this,” Ramirez’s aunt, Maggie Ramirez, told KPRC.

“Nobody deserves to die like that, because we are not dogs or animals or trash to be thrown out there,” Ricardo Ramirez added. “I’m going to be there every day in court to make sure that they give him the maximum. All I want is justice for my daughter.”

Varela was reportedly caught after a friend of his nephew heard about what happened and notified police. The nephew confessed to being allegedly forced by Varela to take part in the body disposal and accused his uncle of assaulting and restraining him.

Investigators were able to find Ramirez’s body after pinging her phone and tracing it to the wooded area where her remains were found, local CBS affiliate KHOU reports. Varela has been charged with murder, assault and unlawful restraint.

Ramirez’s family described her on GoFundMe as a victim of “domestic violence,” with her parents warning others to be wary of similar DV situations.

“Don’t be a victim,” Maggie Ramirez told KPRC. “Don’t die in a barrel. Be someone that speaks up and breaks the bond of fear.”

Varela was being held Monday on bonds totaling $240,000 and is due back in court on Tuesday, according to online records.