A Tennessee man was behind bars for just a few days after police say he killed his girlfriend.
Santrez Traylor, 34, was accused of hitting the 31-year-old woman with his car about 9 p.m. Oct. 7, according to the Memphis Police Department. He killed himself inside his jail about 3 p.m. Saturday, police said.
He was transported by ambulance to Regional One Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Officers originally responded to a home in the 3200 block of Carnes Avenue for someone who was armed last Sunday, but witnesses told WHBQ that they saw the whole incident unfold before their eyes in front of the victim's home.
“I witnessed a murder,” said neighbor Jay Smoot. “It’s pretty, pretty overwhelming.”
Witnesses said shortly after 9 p.m., they heard what turned out to be the deadly confrontation between the victim and her boyfriend, Traylor – who is her child’s father.
They said they also saw Traylor using a brick to hit the woman in the head.
“She was standing when he first hit her and then she fell down and he repeatedly was hitting her with the brick, hitting her with the brick,” one neighbor said. “Kicking, punching her he was trying to make sure she was dead.”
Moments later, witnesses told WHBQ that Traylor went into the home and got keys to a car in the driveway.
That’s when they said he repeatedly “ran her over.”
Traylor was charged with criminal trespassing and domestic assault almost a month ago when he came to the victim’s home threatening to hurt their children, according to a police affidavit.
The document also detailed several other reports of domestic violence involving the suspect and victim.
Authorities said Traylor ran away from the scene before officers arrived, but he was later arrested and charged with second degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
On Wednesday, WHBQ had a chance to speak with Traylor's sister, Sentriace Smith. Smith told WHBQ that she was sticking by her brother's side no matter what. The sister said this situation has been going on for at least eight years.
>> On Fox13Memphis.com: Family of man charged in brutal murder of girlfriend speaks out
“I’ve been called to their home and I witnessed some of the arguments going on,” Smith said.
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