Red Springs, N.C. — A Hoke County man has been charged with murder in connection with the beating death of his girlfriend, who authorities said was  trapped inside a home for four days before dying.

Timothy Jones, 42, was arrested Tuesday, almost three months after Tammy Hunt died at Cape Fear Valley Hospital.

Jones and Hunt lived in a house at 4769 Red Springs Road that is owned by his cousin, Claude Jones. He said Timothy Jones and Hunt stayed in a back room of his house.

Hunt complained about pain in her leg in early November, and paramedics took her to the hospital after four days, Claude Jones said.

"I was there, but as far as butting in on any of his or her affairs, (I didn't)," Claude Jones said.

Tim Hunt, Hunt's brother, said his sister had two broken forearms and a broken leg. Her kidneys also failed because she was is so much pain and had waited so long to receive treatment, he said.

"One of the nurses, her words were, 'There is no drug that would kill that pain,'" Tim Hunt said.

He said Timothy Jones called an ambulance, but said both Jones and his sister told the paramedics she was injured in an ATV accident.

"I know it's not true," Tim Hunt said.

Doctors were suspicious as well, and they called the Hoke County Sheriff's Office to investigate. Before detectives could get any answers from Tammy Hunt, she died.

This week, Hoke County detectives searched Timothy Jones' home and seized clothes, a comforter and parts of an aluminum crutch before arresting him.

Detectives said the case remains under investigation and more arrests are possible.

"It cost her her life, and that's the hardest part is knowing she had to lie and suffer," Tim Hunt said.