COLLIN COUNTY -- The investigation into the possible murder of a missing Mississippi woman in North Texas led authorities to the discovery of a body Thursday night near Lavon Lake in Collin County.
The body was found in an area off Highway 78 and County Road 551 near Farmersville. Richardson police say the body hasn't been identified at this time.
In December of 2015, Jessie Bardwell moved to Richardson from Pascagoula, Miss. to be near her boyfriend, Jason Lowe. Five months later, Bardwell's parents called authorities to report her missing. They told police they hadn't heard from their daughter in more than two weeks.
Three days after she was reported missing, Lowe was arrested on drug charges. The next day, he was charged with murder, even though Bardwell's body hasn't been found.
According to Lowe's arrest warrant, a witness from the neighborhood where Lowe resides said she saw him cleaning out the bed of his truck in the middle of the night on May 7 and take out several trash bags.
The affidavit also states that investigators found what was later determined to be blood inside Bardwell's car after they smelled a strong odor emitted from the vehicle. Authorities report more blood was found in Lowe's Audi.
Muddy boots and a shovel were also found in the garage, where a bullet hole was found in the wall, according to the affidavit.
In May of 2015, Lowe was arrested by Dallas police on an aggravated assault charge. Authorities allege Lowe beat his then-girlfriend to the point of unconsciousness.
Lowe was booked into a Collin County jail and is being held on a $1 million bond.