CARROLLTON, Texas — Carrollton police arrested a 38-year-old man after investigators say a woman reported missing was found dead inside a vehicle on southbound I‑35. An arrest affidavit released Monday lays out evidence authorities say linked the suspect to the death.
How police say they connected the case
On July 21, dispatchers received a call about an unconscious person in a vehicle parked on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 35 near the 2500 block of Carrollton. Officers from Carrollton Police and firefighters from Carrollton Fire-Rescue responded and found the victim, 41-year-old Vera Pitulic, deceased in the vehicle.
Investigators say Pitulic had been reported missing to the Grapevine Police Department the prior day, July 20. Detectives later determined the injuries on Pitulic’s body, including head wounds consistent with blunt-force trauma, suggested she had been assaulted well before her body was discovered.
Evidence described in the affidavit
Police allege several pieces of evidence tied the death to Donny Benedict, 38, identified in the affidavit as Pitulic’s boyfriend. According to the affidavit:
- Pitulic was last seen with Benedict on July 18 after the two argued at a pool party about an alleged affair.
- Pitulic’s phone location was turned off the evening she was last seen.
- Benedict initially denied being with Pitulic that night but later acknowledged video showing the pair leaving Pitulic’s apartment.
- A photograph provided to police by Benedict showed Pitulic wearing a pink bathing suit; the same bathing suit was later recovered from the vehicle where her body was found and tested positive for blood.
"[Pitulic’s] phone location was turned off that same evening," the affidavit says.
Officers executing a search warrant at Benedict’s residence reported finding what they described as five mops inside the house and an empty bleach container in a dumpster. They also noted a hole in a wall that investigators said was consistent with a head injury observed on Pitulic, with what appeared to be blood on and below that damaged area. A fluorescent light test — a tool officers use to reveal traces of cleaned-up blood — reportedly identified two areas of the home where blood had been cleaned.
Arrest and charges
Based on the evidence collected by Carrollton and Grapevine investigators, authorities arrested Benedict. He has been charged with murder and is being held in the Collin County Jail pending further proceedings.
What neighbors and the community should know
The arrest affidavit also records a statement from an ex-girlfriend of the suspect, who told police she believed Benedict was capable of killing Pitulic because of previous abusive behavior. The affidavit did not detail those prior incidents, and court filings typically become public on a staggered timeline.
Carrollton police continue to investigate. Homicide cases with evidence gathered from multiple scenes — here, both a vehicle and a residence — often require forensic testing that can take several weeks. Officials have not released additional documentary evidence or body-camera footage tied to the arrest as of the affidavit filing.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 18 | Pitulic and Benedict seen together after argument at pool party |
| July 20 | Pitulic reported missing to Grapevine Police |
| July 21 | Unconscious person call; Pitulic found deceased in vehicle on I‑35 |
| July 28 | Arrest affidavit released; Benedict charged with murder |
Residents with tips or information related to this case are asked to contact Carrollton Police. As in any unfolding homicide investigation, authorities caution against speculation while forensic and witness work continues.
This case has rattled neighbors in a city where many streets lead to strip-center pools and playoff-parade routes. A violent death on a busy interstate shoulder is an unsettling reminder for locals that serious crime can occur in familiar places; police say their work in the coming days will focus on ensuring the evidence is complete and the investigation withstands scrutiny in court.
Authorities did not release a defense statement from Benedict or additional statements from Pitulic’s family in the affidavit paperwork. The suspect remains in custody in the Collin County Jail on a murder charge, and more details may come as the county prosecutor reviews the case for formal charging instruments.
