A New Jersey man, aged 35, has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend, whom he allegedly killed as she attempted to end their relationship. Following the tragic incident, he reportedly drove around for several hours with her body, using her phone to send messages and photos to create the illusion that she was still alive.

Authorities have arrested Andres Calvachi-Paz, charging him with first-degree murder in connection to the death of 28-year-old Dayana Chisaguano Maleza. He faces additional charges of second-degree disturbing human remains and third-degree theft.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced that the investigation was launched after Maleza’s body was found near a roadway by the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Livingston, New Jersey, located approximately 25 miles from Manhattan.

The New York Daily News reports that an employee at the golf course discovered Maleza’s body around 8:45 a.m. while attempting to chase deer off the property. The worker detected a foul odor and traced it to a wooded area where the body had been left.

At the time of the incident, Calvachi-Paz and Maleza were living together in an apartment in Newark. Prosecutors revealed that earlier this month, the couple engaged in a heated argument during which Maleza expressed her desire to end their relationship. Calvachi-Paz is accused of responding by strangling her to death in their home.

Earlier this month, the couple got into a heated argument, during which the victim “indicated she wanted to end the relationship” with Calvachi-Paz, prosecutors said. Calvachi-Paz allegedly responded by strangling Maleza to death inside their home.

Following the alleged murder, investigators say Calvachi-Paz moved Maleza into his car and “drove around for several hours” before ultimately discarding her body in the woods just off of Walnut Street.

Calvachi-Paz then allegedly tried to cover his tracks by making it seem as though the victim was alive and well.

“Afterward, Calvachi-Paz allegedly engaged in an elaborate scheme to make it appear as though the victim was still alive, including sending messages from her cellphone,” prosecutors wrote in the release.

Despite those efforts, authorities said that Calvachi-Paz admitted to killing Maleza after he was arrested.

It was not immediately clear if authorities know the exact date Maleza was killed or how long her body had been in the woods before it was discovered. Previously, investigators reportedly said they believed Maleza had been dead for several days prior to being found by the golf course employee.

Calvachi-Paz is currently being held in the Essex County Jail without bond, records show. It was not immediately clear when Calvachi-Paz was scheduled to appear in court.