A family is mourning the loss of a Wisconsin mother of 10, whose murder was the result of domestic violence, police say.
The homicide investigation began Wednesday morning in Milwaukee, when police found the body of Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart, 41, in the trunk of her vehicle.
The vehicle was found around 10:30 a.m. that morning, according to Milwaukee police. Police arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with the case.
Authorities have not named the man, but family members said he had a long-term relationship with the victim.
“This incident is related to domestic violence,” police said in a statement to USA TODAY. “The charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County Prosecutor’s Office.”
The father called his daughter’s husband to look for her, in vain
Tommy Jurnett is Jurnett-Stewart’s father and said he first learned his daughter was missing on April 14, when his grandson called to tell him Jurnett-Stewart hadn’t come home.
Jurnett said he advised the 22-year-old to check in the next day. When his mother was still not home, Jurnett told her grandson to call the police.
“It’s going to be bad,” said Jurnett, a former police officer.
Once Jurnett’s other daughter discovered her sister was missing, she began sharing information online to ask for help finding her. She let the public know to look for Jurnett-Stewart’s red vehicle.
As of Tuesday, police were actively involved in the case, his father said. Jurnett-Stewart was a regional manager at Jersey Mike’s and her boss was alarmed when she was absent.
Police found his car Wednesday morning. Jurnett-Stewart’s body was inside the trunk.
His father said police eventually told him they had arrested someone.
“I’m used to this kind of thing but she’s my daughter,” he told USA TODAY.
Jurnett remembers calling her daughter’s husband while she was still missing and the man told her he hadn’t seen Jurnett-Stewart. Eventually, the man stopped answering Jurnett’s calls.
Loved ones remember daughter and mother of 10
Jurnett-Stewart’s father said she was born on a U.S. air base in San Antonio. She was very energetic and a cheerleader in high school, he told USA TODAY Monday morning. His mother, Colette Lejon-Jurnett, died in 2007, he said.
Jurnett-Stewart had 10 children in total, including twins. She also has a son, Daniel, who died around the age of 11 months.
Jurnett said he last saw his daughter on Thanksgiving when her family threw her a surprise birthday party.
He said Jurnett-Stewart would likely be buried in Milwaukee, but the family would also hold a ceremony in memory of her in Tennessee, where they have many cousins she grew up with.
“They are all suffering, they are hurt and they have tears in their eyes,” he said, adding that it was difficult for all of them.
Her younger sister, Elizabeth Houston, said she was independent, determined and a wonderful mother.
Police asked anyone with information about Jurnett-Stewart’s death to call (414) 935-7360 or (414) 224-8477.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She’s from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send him an email at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Murdered mother of 10 Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart remembers; man arrested
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