On Oct. 31, 2007, Balzourt strangled the woman and then set her body on fire near Marlin Drive, according to findings at the time of the murder. Early in the case, investigators identified Balzourt as the last one to have seen Roman, with whom he was living.

Roman and Balzourt were arguing over her contact with an ex-boyfriend shortly before she died, investigators said. Though Balzourt said he had gone back to his home in south Orange County on the night of the murder, cell phone records placed him in north Polk County, headed out of Poinciana, later the following morning. A large stain of blood on the seat of Balzourt’s 2007 Ford Edge matched Roman’s DNA, authorities said.

Roman was reported missing by her parents, who lived in Puerto Rico. Her body eventually was identified with the help of friends and family in the Central Florida area, once they realized they had not heard from her and heard media reports of the body of a woman left burning on the side of the road.