In the wake of Julie Morey's death in a Fountain Square church, Indianapolis police spent months collecting witness statements, security footage and DNA samples to track down the individual responsible.

The man charged with her slaying, Robert Burks, now stands accused of strangling and stabbing the 58-year-old homeless woman to death two weeks after Morey told police that he left her with two black eyes because she denied him sex.

According to court documents, the investigation began around 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 3 when police and firefighters were called to St. Patrick Catholic Church at 950 Prospect St.

When they arrived, they were directed to the Religious Education Center, where Morey was sitting on a couch fully clothed with a coat over her legs. She was pronounced dead at 9:18 a.m.

Detectives spoke to a church employee who said she found Morey's body when she arrived to open the Religious Education Center for Sunday school. Two of the building's windows had been broken.

Police said evidence technicians took photos of the scene, but members of the county crime lab were not called in to process the scene because it was initially unclear if foul play was involved, according to court documents.

An autopsy performed the next day revealed that Morey's death was the result of multiple stab wounds and strangulation. Her death was ruled a homicide.

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Detectives learned that a week before her body was found in the church, a priest found Morey sleeping in the hallway of the church with an unidentified man who matched Burks' description.

Investigators also found a police report made by Morey on Oct. 20. Morey said that Burks attempted to have sex with her and that when she refused, Burks punched her in the face, resulting in two black eyes.

Court documents said police spoke to a homeless man believed to be Morey's boyfriend the day after her death. The man told police that a man named "Bobby" was mad at Morey because she would not have sex with him.

The man also said that if anything happened to Morey, "Bobby" was the one who did it, court documents said.

Just a few days later, police received a call from a woman who said Burks contacted her after Morey's death, according to court documents.

The woman told police that Burks walked to her house either late on Nov. 3 or early on Nov. 4 and asked if he could stay there. Burks changed his clothes at the home and told the woman he had been questioned by police about Morey.

Burks told the woman that he instructed police where to find Morey's body, but they let him go because he was cooperative, court documents said.

Police continued to track down evidence for the rest of the month, including gathering surveillance footage showing Morey entering a Family Dollar store with a man fitting Burks' description shortly before her death.

Police questioned Burks on Dec. 5. He said that while he knew Morey, he hadn't seen her in months. He added that he never got mad at Morey but would become angry when people stole her belongings.

At the end of the interview, police arrested Burks on a warrant out of Monroe County in a separate battery case from December 2018. Investigators also took DNA samples from Burks.

On Jan. 30, police spoke to a woman who said that she has known Burks for three or four years and that they have lived together on and off, according to court documents.

The woman said her relationship with Burks started off fine but deteriorated when Burks would use drugs and alcohol.

She said Burks became violent with her on multiple occasions, including one incident when Burks knocked her unconscious with a punch. The woman said she now suffers ongoing seizures because of the incident, court documents said.

The woman then told police that Burks said he killed Morey, court documents said.

Later that day, a DNA report revealed traces of Burks' DNA on Morey's body. A second DNA report completed on Feb. 12 led to the discovery of more forensic evidence connecting Burks to Morey.

Burks was charged with murder while in custody at the Monroe County Jail. According to online court records, he had not yet made his first court appearance in Marion County as of early Tuesday afternoon.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.