
(Gofundme/League City Police Department)
Authorities in Texas have made an arrest nearly two months after the body of a mother of four was found hanging from a dock in what police allege was a staged suicide. Giselle Salazar-Tapia, 30, was discovered “hanging off a dock” at a marina in League City, Texas, on May 31, according to local police.
On Friday, July 26, League City police announced the arrest of 51-year-old James Hart, identified by several outlets as Salazar-Tapia’s boyfriend, in connection with her death. Hart has been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, as stated by the police.
Though the police have not publicly identified the victim, she was named as Giselle Salazar-Tapia by FOX 29. Hart’s arrest comes nearly two months after Salazar-Tapia’s body was found at the marina. “Callers told LCPD the woman appeared to have been lifeless as she was hung by a rope from the dock,” League City police said in their initial statement.
As police spoke with friends and family, Salazar-Tapia’s boyfriend “became very distraught and would not come out of his boat,” police reported. Shortly afterward, officers convinced him to leave the boat. Following his girlfriend’s death, Hart spoke to local media, insisting he was not involved.
“It feels like a nightmare you can’t wake up from,” he told KHOU. “I didn’t have anything to do with it, and I never would have.” He described their relationship as being together “24/7” and expressed a desire for “justice for Giselle and for myself.”
In June, police began investigating Salazar-Tapia’s death as a possible homicide, identifying two people of interest. League City authorities believe Salazar-Tapia died at a different location, and that her body was staged to appear as though she had died by suicide, according to ABC 11.
Her body was partially submerged in the water with her arm “suspended up in the air” in an unnatural position, leading police to suspect she had died with her arm extended above her head before being placed at the scene. A GoFundMe set up to cover funeral expenses and child care for her children alleges that Salazar-Tapia was a victim of domestic violence.
“Giselle was the most charismatic person you could ever meet, sharing a smile and making a friend of everyone she came across,” the fundraiser reads in part. “Giselle always looked for the best in people, even when they didn’t deserve her kindness.”
Authorities have not announced any domestic violence-related charges against Hart. However, League City police told The Daily News that officers had been called several times in the past for domestic disturbances involving Salazar-Tapia. It was not immediately clear if Hart has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.