A troubling discovery by a concerned friend has led to a homicide investigation and the arrest of a man accused of killing a woman in Indianapolis, in a case that investigators say followed a history of frequent arguments.

The victim, 51-year-old Kimberly Stewart, was found late Tuesday night in the backyard of her home on Lynhurst Drive. Police say she had suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

According to reporting from Indianapolis outlet WXIN, investigators believe Stewart died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries. An autopsy later determined the wounds could have been caused by a heavy object such as the blunt side of an ax, and her death was officially ruled a homicide.

The investigation began after a longtime friend of Stewart grew worried when he couldn’t reach her.

The friend had planned to stop by earlier in the day to collect paperwork related to a vehicle they had recently sold together. Stewart was known for buying cars at auction and fixing them up before reselling them.

When the friend arrived around 4:30 p.m., there was no answer. Her car was gone from the driveway and his text messages went unanswered. At first, he assumed she might simply be resting before her overnight shift at a UPS distribution center.

But hours later, he decided to check again.

When he returned to the property around 10:50 p.m., several unusual details immediately stood out. Stewart’s dog was outside—something the friend said rarely happened. The back gate and door were unlocked, another thing he described as out of character.

As he stepped into the yard, the dog began running toward the garage area where Stewart’s boyfriend, 45-year-old Travis Wolfe, lived.

The friend soon realized Wolfe was not there either.

Then he heard something chilling.

Following the sound of Stewart’s phone ringing, he located her body lying between a wooden fence and an outdoor spa. According to court documents, he attempted to wake her but quickly realized something was terribly wrong.

He grabbed the phone and called 911.

During the investigation, the friend told police that Wolfe and Stewart had argued often and that tensions between them had recently escalated. He also described Wolfe as volatile and said he had seen him carrying an ax around the property.

Detectives later located Wolfe driving Stewart’s BMW. Investigators say they found traces of blood inside the vehicle as well as an ax in the back seat.

Wolfe reportedly told detectives he had left the home after an argument but denied attacking Stewart.

However, a second witness added a critical piece of evidence. That person told investigators they heard a woman yelling Tuesday night and saw a man striking downward with what appeared to be a club or hammer in the same backyard area where Stewart’s body was discovered.

The witness later identified the man as Wolfe.

Based on the evidence and witness statements, police arrested Wolfe on a preliminary charge of murder. Authorities say he also had an outstanding warrant related to a separate firearm case.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will determine the final charges as the investigation continues.