The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office says that a man accused of killing his girlfriend inside their home in Lakewood’s Leisure Village was arrested earlier this week in Maryland.

Betty Perry, 60, was found dead inside her Thornbury Court home on Tuesday after police conducted a wellness check. Authorities identified her boyfriend as John Filistovich. They say that the couple lived in the home together.

Those who knew the couple tell News 12 New Jersey that their relationship was “toxic.” They say that Perry was abused and that Filistovich had mental health issues.

Filistovich is being held at a Maryland correctional facility. He was found Tuesday, 155 miles south of Leisure Village by Maryland State Police officers. He was on the side of the road in the victim's Hyundai Elantra, according to officials.

Perry's neighbors say they are in disbelief over what Filistovich is accused of doing to their friend.

Police found Perry beaten, the cause of death being blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. Another neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous called the police for a wellness check after not seeing Perry and noticing her car was gone.

"She needed protection from authorities, and it didn't happen,” the neighbor says. "She had one restraining order which she dropped. Another restraining order which she dropped because he kept saying to her, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’”

Filistovich was charged with murder and theft over accusations that he stole Perry's car. He will soon be extradited to New Jersey to face prosecution.