The family of 26-year-old Marissa Grimes said they want her killer to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and hope he gets the maximum sentence.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Fort Worth Police found Grimes’ body wrapped in a blanket and a tarp in a crawl space underneath Valerian Osteen’s home on February 23.
Fort Worth Police said Osteen is the main suspect in their investigation of the 26-year-old’s murder.
Osteen had previously been arrested and charged for a January 9 domestic violence incident involving Grimes, accused of holding her hostage at gunpoint and threatening her life. He bonded out of jail on January 13.
Following his release, a court granted an emergency protective order banning Osteen from contacting Grimes.
Grimes was reported missing on February 12. A U-Haul truck that she had rented was found abandoned at a park near Osteen’s home on February 21.
Fort Worth Police later executed a search warrant at Osteen’s home, where they found Grimes deceased. The medical examiner said she died of blunt force trauma to the head, and had several other injuries.
In a statement sent out by the Grimes family spokesperson, attorney Christy Jack said the family is praying for attorneys to prosecute Osteen to the fullest extent of the law, adding that they hope he gets the maximum possible punishment.
“We cannot undo what happened to Marissa, but from this moment forward, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office has the opportunity to do the right thing,” Jack said in the statement, according to CBS 11 News.
Jack pointed out that Grimes, a mother of two, had allegedly been a victim of abuse at the hands of Osteen before her death.
“Osteen held Marissa against her will and prevented her escape in January,” Jack continued. “A number of mistakes were made after that point.”
Osteen is now being held at the Tarrant County Jail without bond, and police said he could also face additional charges.
