The 28-year-old boyfriend of a former Valdosta resident living in Tampa, Fla., was charged with the woman’s death.

Artis Pye is charged with first-degree murder and sexual battery with great bodily harm following the death of Monica Henley, 21, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 17, between 11-11:30 p.m., the suspect and victim, who lived together, returned to their North Tampa apartment. Henley’s body was reported to the Sheriff’s Office by Pye the next morning, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Funeral services for Henley were conducted Saturday at Beulah Baptist Church in Quitman.

Investigators said for unknown reasons, Pye manually strangled the victim and then struck her several times on the head with an aluminum baseball bat. Henley was also sexually battered during the attack, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Pye was arrested at his residence and booked into the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County.

Information from the Florida Sentinel said Henley moved into the apartment two months ago with her 3-year-old daughter and Pye.