Susan Loper, the Plano fitness instructor whose body was found in a field last week, died of injuries described as "overkill" by a Dallas police detective.
The arrest warrant affidavit for Terrance Black indicated that Loper suffered blunt force trauma all around her head that “could be attributed to a suspect who has had a personal relationship with the victim and then the relationship became strained" and that "much more force was used than necessary to kill her."
Black was arrested Friday in Arizona after jumping into the Grand Canyon after being questioned for panhandling by park rangers. Black fell about 25 feet and was hospitalized in Arizona.
He will eventually be extradited back to North Texas to face capital murder charges in connection with Loper's murder.
According to a search warrant affidavit, "Loper and Black had been in a relationship that ended badly when Black became 'obsessed' with Loper and his actions toward her were described as 'smothering'..." Loper's mother, Catherine Miller, told investigators on the day of her daughter's disappearance.
Friends backed up the statement. According to the search warrant affidavit, he "recently attempted to give Susan Loper gifts which she refused, resulting in Black becoming angry."
Black had no prior criminal record.
