Man charged with murder in Denton in July

Nearly a month after a woman was found unconscious and seriously injured in a Denton home and later died, a man is facing murder charges.

Michael Tooley, 53, has been in the Denton County Jail on an unrelated warrant since July 24, a day after the death of 20-year-old Dylan Gurley, Denton police said. On July 23, Gurley was found unconscious and suffering from traumatic injuries in an abandoned home in the 3700 block of Holland Lane around 11:10 p.m.

She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead at around 11:45 p.m. that evening, according to the Tarrant County Coroner. According to the coroner, her causes of death were blunt and sharp force trauma and strangulation.

According to police, investigators learned that both Tooley and Gurley were at the abandoned property. Witnesses told police that Tooley was upset about the missing money and had stated that he would hurt or kill anyone he thought was trying to steal from him, police said. There had also been a history of unrest between Tooley and Gurley, witnesses said.

Tooley was also said to have been with the 911 caller when Gurley was found and fled the scene before police arrived, the press release said.

Tooley was arrested the next day on a warrant for public nuisance, police said. He was later questioned about Gurley's death and confirmed that there had been altercations between him and Gurley in the past, but denied any involvement in her death, police said.

However, investigators later reviewed Tooley's phone conversations in jail, in which he made several comments linking himself to Gurley's death, police said. Further investigation revealed that Tooley and Gurley were in the same area at the time of Gurley's death, police said.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Tooley on Friday. He remained in custody at the Denton County Jail. Tooley's bail for the murder charge has not yet been set and it was unclear if he had an attorney.