A Massachusetts man is accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend at his residence before burying her in a five-foot-deep grave. He then allegedly contacted the police, reporting her as missing and claiming she left after a dispute.

Gregory Groom, 22, is charged with murder, assault and battery on a pregnant individual, and witness intimidation over the death of 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro in Rehoboth, approximately 50 miles southwest of Boston. Groom faced a murder charge in court on Wednesday morning after authorities discovered Monteiro’s body on Tuesday night.

Prosecutors stated that on August 8, Groom called Rehoboth police, explaining that Monteiro had been at his home two days earlier seeking a place to stay. He claimed they argued, leading her to leave, and she hadn’t been seen since, said District Attorney Jason Mohan. Groom mentioned to investigators that Monteiro was usually active on social media but hadn’t posted since their last encounter, according to a report by Boston NBC affiliate WBZ.

Detectives spoke with Monteiro’s sister, who had received a text from Monteiro on August 6, claiming that “he threw me on the ground, pulled my hair, and strangled me. My phone is at 4%, and if I die, it was Greg.” Family members attempted to contact her without success.

Prosecutors noted at the hearing that Monteiro was 11 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Officers visited Groom’s property on August 14, searching the 25-acre site with cadaver dogs and an emergency response team but did not find anything significant.

On Tuesday, Groom spoke to investigators again. He allegedly admitted to a confrontation with his girlfriend, during which he claimed to have knocked her phone from her hand. Detectives informed Groom that they would search his property again and were prepared to dig if necessary.

“Mr. Groom then paused,” Mohan said. “He was given an opportunity to tell the police where Ms. Monteiro’s body was located either by being taken to his property and pointing it out or drawing a map or telling officers where her body was located, as they believed Ms. Monteiro was dead.”

The defendant then drew a “rudimentary” map that showed a shed on the property. He allegedly told cops that he stabbed Monteiro twice in the neck and once in the chest on Aug. 6. The kitchen knife broke off when he stabbed her in the chest, he said, according to Mohan. She died, and Groom spent that night and early morning hours the next day digging a grave. Once he reached five feet of depth, he pushed her body into the hole and buried her, Mohan said.

Crime scene investigators went to the shed where they saw a large pile of brush. Under the brush, they found a pool of blood where Groom is believed to have killed his girlfriend. About 20 yards away, cops found “feet upon feet” of cut down trees. They pushed the trees to the side where they found freshly moved dirt, according to Mohan.

In the hole was Monteiro’s body.

Monteiro’s family started a GoFundMe that was first created to help in the search for her.

Now, the fundraiser is for her funeral.

“Thank you for all your help in spreading awareness and for all the support our family has received so far,” the family wrote. “This is closure and we are so thankful for everyone’s help in getting here. Obviously there will be court proceedings but we are taking this one step at a time.”

Groom is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 10. He is being held in jail without bond.