Texas Mom Was Found Hanging from Dock, But Police Suspected a Staged Suicide — Now They've Arrested a Suspect

Authorities in Texas have made an arrest nearly two months after a mother of four was found hanging from a dock in a scene police allege was a staged suicide. 

Giselle Salazar-Tapia, 30, was found “hanging off a dock” of a marina in League City, Texas, on May 31, local police said at the time.

On Friday, July 26, League City police announced they arrested 51-year-old James Hart, identified in several outlets as the woman’s boyfriend, in connection with her death.

They charged Hart with tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, police said in their statement. 

Police have not publicly identified the victim, but she was identified as Giselle Salazar-Tapia by ABC 11, The Daily News and FOX 29.

Hart’s arrest comes nearly two months after League City police were notified of Salazar-Tapia’s body found in the marina. 

“Callers told LCPD the woman appeared to have been lifeless as she was hung by a rope from the dock,” League City police said in their May statement. 

As police spoke with friends and family, Salazar-Tapia’s boyfriend “became very distraught and would not come out of his boat,” police said. Shortly afterwards, police say they were able to convince him to come out of the boat. 

Hart spoke to local media after his girlfriend’s death, saying he was not involved.

“It feels like a nightmare you can’t wake up from,” he told KHOU. “I didn’t have anything to do with it, and I never would have.”

He said they were “together 24/7” and that he wanted “justice for Giselle and for myself.” 

In June, police said they were investigating Salazar-Tapia’s death as a possible homicide and identified two people of interest, KHOU, KTRK and The Daily News reported at the time. 

League City authorities said they believe she died in a different location and that her body was allegedly staged to appear as though she died by suicide, ABC 11 reported. 

Her body was partially submerged in the water with her arm “suspended up in the air” with “nothing holding it there,” police told the outlet. “So, we believe she probably passed away with her arm extended up above her head like that, and then rigor mortis had set in prior to her being placed like that.”

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In a GoFundMe set up to help cover funeral expenses and child care for her children, Salazar-Tapia’s family alleged she was a victim of domestic violence. 

“Giselle was the most charismatic person you could ever meet, sharing a smile and making a friend of everyone she came across,” the fundraiser reads in part. “Giselle always looked for the best in people, even when they didn’t deserve her kindness.”

Authorities did not announce any domestic-violence related charges against Hart. League City police told ABC 13 that officers had been called several times in the past regarding domestic disturbances involving Salazar-Tapia

It wasn’t immediately clear if Hart has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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.