BREAKING NEWS: Woman Found Dead on Road Days Before Christmas, Partner Arrested. giang

An Oregon man has been accused of manslaughter after police discovered his partner’s body in a car on the side of a rural road.

Mary McDowell, 64, was found dead by Washington County sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of an “unresponsive” woman in Sherwood, Ore., on Dec. 13, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement at the time.

Police arrested 38-year-old Jose Lucas Morfin, Jr., her partner, at the scene. He was indicted on Dec. 20 on charges of manslaughter, assault, and abuse of a corpse, as well as weapons raps. Morfin has pleaded not guilty to all charges, per the Statesman Journal.

In a statement shared through the sheriff’s office, McDowell’s family remembered her as a loving and caring soul, particularly to those nearing the end of their lives. McDowell extended end-of-life care for several family members, including her late husband, and residents at her mother’s memory care facility, her family said.

“She helped so many people throughout her lifetime, and we are asking the public to help her now,” they said in the statement, pleading for people who may have known McDowell or “encountered her with” Morfin to share information with detectives.

“Mary was a sweet, kind, caring soul with a delightful giggle who spent her entire life serving and caring for others,” the statement continues.

During a court appearance on Dec. 16, Morfin pleaded with family members to not “believe the propaganda,” KPTV reported.

“Lori, I was there with Mary and I tried to revive her!” he said, addressing who he says is his “sister-in-law.”

“I love Mary with all my heart,” he said during the hearing, per the outlet.

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An investigation remains ongoing. PEOPLE was not able to immediately reach his lawyer.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.