After easing into retirement, former MMA fighter Phil Baroni found himself back in the news this week when he was implicated in the murder of his girlfriend in the Mexican state of Nayarit. According to reports, Baroni flagged down local authorities and claimed that his girlfriend was in their hotel room nonresponsive, per Associated Press. When police arrived on the scene, they found the victim covered in a sheet in bed.
The woman, who is being called Paola by news outlets, was reported to be covered in bruises at the time of her death. Baroni claimed that they had gotten into a fight earlier in the afternoon after Paola told him she had previously cheated on him, per Tribuna de la Bahia (via Huffington Post). During the day, Baroni also drank and smoked marijuana. He told police that he had demanded Paola take a shower, and when she refused, he pushed her, causing her to hit her head. He then helped Paola to bed, where he thought she soon fell asleep. However, when he attempted to wake her up hours later, he could not and was prompted to seek help.
Read Related Also: Thief steals two weapons from Los Angeles mayoral frontrunner Karen Bass’s dwelling
Baroni was charged with “aggravated femicide” and is currently being held in a local jail, per ABC.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
