CHINA GROVE, Texas — A woman was arrested for murder after investigators say she beat her boyfriend to death with a hammer.
Abigail Molina, 32, is charged with murder, property theft, and tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair in connection to the death of Gilbert Parker.
Parker, 64, was found lying unconscious, partially naked, and covered in “what appeared to be dried blood” on Jan. 18 near the Old Path Baptist Church in China Grove, according to an affidavit.
When asked what happened, investigators say Parker was unable to communicate in complete sentences, only shouting “God Damn,” while going in and out of consciousness.
In the nearby tool shed where Parker was found, multiple bloodstains described as “droplets” and “pools” were observed by investigators.
Presumptive blood stains were also found on two recliners positioned at the back of the shed.
Parker was transported to a hospital in San Antonio, where his condition deteriorated. He was then transferred to another nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 20.
An autopsy showed Parker had multiple lacerations on his head, including an injury that fractured his skull and caused bleeding within the brain. Investigators said the laceration was possibly caused by a blunt stabbing tool, “like the claw end of a hammer,” or another tool used for gardening.
According to the affidavit, on Jan. 19, Molina contacted the China Grove Police Department, stating she had nothing to hide and that she acted in self-defense, regarding an altercation that landed Parker in the hospital.
Further investigation revealed Parker’s cell phone, wallet, and his 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup were missing. According to the affidavit, Parker had been living out of a shed near the church where he was found and his truck, where most of his possessions were kept.
Investigators learned that church parishioners went to the crime scene and threw away drug evidence and cleaned up possible blood evidence along with other property that belonged to Parker. During a search of the property and trash, the affidavit states drugs, paraphernalia, bloody clothing, bloody eyeglasses, a small paver stone with blood, DNA, and Parker’s pants worn on the day of the incident were found.
Shortly after Parker’s death, a friend told investigators he had been in a relationship with Molina and the two had engaged in verbal altercations in the past.
On Jan. 20, a flock license plate reader system flagged Parker’s Dodge pickup near FM 1518 and Lower Seguin Road. Investigators found the location where the pickup was last seen was just 1.3 miles from the address of a close friend of Molina’s, whom she had previously stayed with and frequented.
According to the affidavit, Molina gave vague details regarding her relationship with Parker. When asked about her last encounter with him, Molina stated the two had gotten into a verbal and physical altercation on Jan. 13 at a local smoke shop.
Molina refused to discuss details of the assault and told investigators she left the scene after throwing Parker’s vehicle keys into traffic and gathered her belongings.
Investigators said during the interview, Molina was overly nervous and showed multiple signs of deception. Molina denied having ever been to Parker’s residence multiple times but then “backpedaled” when a hair and buccal swab was collected, the affidavit states.
Molina then told investigators she had only been there once before the altercation at the smoke shop and had only slept.
The affidavit states receipts from Jan. 13 and witness testimony refuted this, showing a specific vape purchased that day was found at the crime scene after Parker’s death. Hair fibers matching Molina were also recovered from the scene.
Witnesses at the smoke shop also said Molina was a “regular” but had stopped coming in since the altercation, according to the affidavit.
On Feb. 1, a homicide detective with the San Antonio Police Department got a phone call from a female cousin of Molina’s ex-boyfriend. She described details about Parker’s death that were not known to the public and told investigators she had heard this from her cousin, who said Molina had shared these details, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states Parker’s longtime friend received an anonymous call regarding the weapon used to assault Parker. The anonymous caller stated the weapon was dumped at a stormwater drainage culvert near Molina’s residence in San Antonio.
Investigators found a construction hammer with a rusted top and one claw missing near Molina’s front driveway. Presumptive blood was found that had rusted over on the handle and the hammer itself, investigators said. They noted the hammer’s claw was consistent in size and shape with the wound on Parker’s skull.
According to the affidavit, Molina’s ex-boyfriend told investigators Molina described being hit by Parker and “blacking out,” hitting him with the hammer repeatedly.
Molina told him Parker was crying and asking for help however she took his truck to a friend’s house and tried to spray paint it and sand it. She also took the vehicle to a car wash to detail the interior and remove blood stains, the affidavit states.
After hearing of Parker’s death, the vehicle’s contents were removed from Molina’s house and placed in a white bag. The bag contained Parker’s personal belongings including his cell phone, wallet, and tools belonging to him and the church.
Molina ‘s ex-boyfriend also told investigators she admitted to washing blood off her clothes.
According to the affidavit, Molina drove Parker’s truck to Houston and sold it to a “Cars for Cash” business for $300. Investigators said she also contacted multiple junk/scrap businesses trying to get more money.
China Grove police got in contact with a witness at “I Buy Junk Vehicles” who confirmed Molina had sold the truck to him and was acting “shady.”
Jail records show Molina was booked into the Bexar Adult Detention Center on Friday.
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