Eliana Alexandra Bigoni had come to her estranged husband's apartment on a Tuesday morning in August to pick up her two young children for school, just as she had done countless times before during their separation. What should have been a routine exchange ended in tragedy when police say her husband, Jake O'Brien Bigoni, shot and killed the 34-year-old woman inside The Parker Apartments on Charles Place in Plano, Texas.
Background
Eliana and Jake Bigoni were going through a divorce, according to an arrest probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime. The couple's separation had prompted concern among family and friends, who described escalating tensions in the days leading up to the killing. On the morning of August 12, Eliana arrived at her estranged husband's apartment around the time children would typically be leaving for school. She was supposed to drop off their two young sons and return them home within 10 to 15 minutes, according to the charging document. When she failed to answer her phone shortly after arriving, those waiting for her grew worried.
Eliana's mother and a witness who had been tracking her location through cellphones became alarmed when she missed an 8:30 a.m. breakfast meetup that morning. They could see from the shared location data that her phone remained at the apartment complex but Eliana was unreachable. The witness contacted police expressing concern over her welfare, citing the couple's pending divorce as reason for alarm.
The Investigation
Plano Police arrived at The Parker Apartments just before 10:30 a.m. and spoke with Jake Bigoni outside his unit. Officers noted he had a large wet spot on his shirt when they first encountered him. The defendant told investigators that Eliana had been there earlier but he didn't know where she was now, according to the affidavit. He claimed they were going through a divorce and said she came by to pick up one of their children who wasn't feeling well.
When officers returned to question him further about his wife's car and whether she had driven there that morning, Jake Bigoni again explained away the wet spot on his clothing, saying he had been cleaning the house. He confirmed he had seen Eliana that morning before closing his garage door, the charging document states.
Back in their patrol vehicle by 10:44 a.m., one officer wrote updated notes to the call stating, "I believe someone has been harmed killed," according to the affidavit. Another note read simply: "son said she is dead."
Detectives then contacted Jake Bigoni's mother as a second witness. She told investigators she had spoken with her son by phone around 10:15 a.m. that morning. During that call, he allegedly said: "I have something to tell you. She's dead" and "we got in a fight and she's dead," according to police.
Officers returned to Jake Bigoni's door at 10:46 a.m. for a third time and placed him in handcuffs. When asked if his wife was inside, he allegedly responded with confusion: "Why are you doing this?" When pressed about why he would tell his mother Eliana had died, the defendant reportedly replied: "How would you know this kind of stuff?"
Police observed that the wet spot on Jake Bigoni's shirt had begun to dry and transition into a darker reddish-brown stain. At that point, officers said they determined it was reasonable to conduct an exigent sweep of the apartment to check on Eliana's safety.
Inside the garage, in the trunk of a white Hyundai Genesis matching Eliana's vehicle, police found the victim. She was not breathing, unresponsive and in an unnatural position, according to the affidavit. The apartment and victim were covered in blood. Officers noted Eliana appeared to have significant damage to her face and head with dried blood on her face and in her hair.
Jake Bigoni was originally arrested and booked on a charge of abuse of a corpse. Additional charges of murder in the first degree came later, according to authorities. The defendant is being held without bond in Collin County Jail.
Key Takeaways
- Eliana Alexandra Bigoni, 34, was killed at The Parker Apartments in Plano, Texas, while her two young children were inside the residence with their father
- Jake O'Brien Bigoni allegedly told his mother during a phone call that morning: "I have something to tell you. She's dead" and "we got in a fight and she's dead"
- Police discovered Eliana's body inside the trunk of her own vehicle, a white Hyundai Genesis parked in the apartment garage
- The defendant was initially booked on abuse of a corpse charges before additional murder charges were filed
- Jake Bigoni remains detained without bond at Collin County Jail
What's Next
Jake O'Brien Bigoni is awaiting prosecution on a first-degree murder charge and abuse of a corpse. He has been ordered held without bond in Collin County Jail pending future court proceedings. The children, who were inside the apartment during the killing, have been placed with family members according to police.