GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man accused of beating his girlfriend's husband to death at their home in Gallatin was charged with first-degree murder, according to court documents.

Around 2:40 a.m. on May 17, Gallatin Police responded to a residence in the 100 block of West Hite Street, where they found 65-year-old Stephen Thomas deceased.

Court documents said Thomas was found with "numerous" injuries to his hands, face and abdomen. Authorities found a broken glass mug and a broken brick near the body, which are believed to have been used in the murder.

Investigators interviewed Thomas' wife, who found the body and reported it to police shortly after she was released from Sumner County Jail.

She told authorities that after her release she met with 29-year-old Jovanny Daniel Ruiz, a man she was romantically involved with for several weeks prior, at an apartment on East Winchester Street in Gallatin. When she arrived at the apartment around 1:50 a.m., Ruiz had blood on his mouth and hands.

She then left the apartment, stopped at a convenience store, and headed to the residence on West Hite Street, where she discovered her husband's body.

Reports said video surveillance footage from the early morning hours of May 17 captured Ruiz walking from West Hite Street with bloody clothing.

A witness who was interviewed during the investigation claimed Ruiz had told him earlier in the evening that he intended to "beat up" Thomas because he believed Thomas was responsible for the woman's arrest.

Around 7 a.m., officers arrived at Ruiz's apartment and found him with a bloody cut on his chest and blood on his knuckles. Documents said he was in the same pants that he was wearing in the surveillance video. He reportedly told officers he was involved in a fight about five hours before.

Ruiz was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held in Sumner County Jail without bond.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/man-accused-of-beating-girlfriends-husband-to-death-in-gallatin-home/