It had been more than a day since Francisco Merlos had spoken to his girlfriend when he went by her mother's house Saturday to check on her. The couple had a split two days before, and Merlos was hoping to patch things up.

Merlos said Geneva Gomez, 33, had come by his apartment Thursday at the behest of her mother, Juanita Gomez, and gathered her things. Merlos said Juanita Gomez had accused him of theft, a charge he denies, and wanted her daughter to leave him.

When he knocked on her door Saturday, Juanita Gomez grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him inside, Merlos said.

"I hugged her and said I was sorry for what happened on Thursday," Merlos said.