Carlos Ortiz, 50, was arrested in a Belleville motel Wednesday
EWING -- The boyfriend of the woman found dead in her Ewing home was charged Thursday with strangling her with a cell phone charging cord during an argument, authorities said.
Carlos Ortiz, 50, is charged with murder, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon in the death of 51-year-old Rufina Castro. Bail was set at $1 million.
Carlos Ortiz, 50, faces murder and weapons charges Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said Ortiz was arguing with Castro in the bedroom of the house Tuesday and hit her in the head with a glass beer bottle.
He then strangled her with a cell phone charging cord before trying to conceal her body under a pile of clothes and blankets, Onofri said.
Ortiz fled the scene in his Ford Explorer and was found in a Belleville motel Wednesday, authorities said.
Ewing police conducting a welfare check at the Ewingville Road home just before 3 a.m. found Castro's body in the bedroom.
Onofri credited the State Police, Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Belleville and Readington police departments for their help in the arrest.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.