NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville man was arrested Sunday for the death of his ex-girlfriend after her body was found in a container in his closet.
Metro Nashville police announced Sunday that Dwayne Herelle, Jr., 28, is charged with criminal homicide.
According to his arrest report, the mother of Irene Torres called police around 9 a.m. Sunday to ask officers to check on the welfare of her daughter. The mother told dispatchers her daughter and daughter's ex-boyfriend, Herelle, had a history of domestic violence. She also told dispatchers she saw security video showing Herelle forcibly dragging Torres from her home on 9th Street in Old Hickory around 2 a.m. Sunday.
Officers went to Herelle's apartment in Bellevue to question him, and he told them he hadn't seen her since Friday, according to his arrest report.
A neighbor at 865 Bellevue, who identified himself as Michael, said tenants are trying to wrap their heads around such a grisly crime.
“I feel awful that it happened. It was a shock to us when we heard the news,” Michael said. "It is really scary to hear, and you never think this stuff is guna happen so close to home. It just goes to show you how unexpected things can be."
The officers left the scene, but police said the victim's father showed up at Herelle's apartment and asked him about his daughter. Initially, Herelle reportedly told the victim's father that she was at a hotel in downtown Nashville. They got into the car to go to the hotel and that's when, according to this arrest report, Herelle told Torres' father that he stabbed her to death and she was in a container in a closet at his apartment.
The victim's father immediately called police. Then, he was taken into custody.
According to his arrest report, Herelle later admitted to police he went to Torres' home and they got into an argument. He stabbed her to death in the parking lot and put her in the trunk of his car and drove her to his apartment, where he wrapped her in a comforter and put her in the container in the closet.
Herelle is being held in the Davidson County Detention Center without bond.
"This is the first time we’ve ever heard of anything like this happening here so it’s a shock," Michael said.
Advocates at the Family Safety Center have some tips they sent NewsChannel 5:
After leaving an abusive relationship:
- Let neighbors know the person shouldn’t be at your home and call police if they see them.
- Have a signal for your neighbors to know you’re in danger.
- Have a code word or phrase with a trusted person (friend/family/co-worker) that you can text them if you’re in danger that they know to call the police when they receive it.
- Install a camera so you know if they might be at the home waiting for you.
- Check your car and phone for any potential tracking devices or apps.
If the abuser is waiting for you at your home:
- If you see them before exiting your car, drive to the nearest police station, the Family Safety Center [ofs.nashville.gov] at 610 Murfreesboro Pike, or to a well-lit area away from the home to call police.
- If you expect they may be there but don’t see them, don’t overburden yourself with things to carry inside and go in as quickly as possible.
- If you can, get inside and lock the door.
- Do not let the person in and call 911.
- If you have children, make sure children know not to let the person inside. Also, teach them where to hide and how to call police.
Lastly, you can reach the Family Safety Center at 615-880-1100.
