A Butler, Alabama native faces a murder charge after his girlfriend died at a local hospital from injuries. 

Michael D. Portis, 42, drove his girlfriend, Miranda K. Allen, to a local emergency department after an incident at Western Motel, on US 80, in Meridian. Officers received a call from the hospital around 1 a.m. reporting the suspicious activity, Meridian Police Sgt. Dareall Thompson said. She suffered blunt head trauma, Thompson said.

The Allen, 37, died around 12:09 a.m. from her wounds, Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said.

A hometown for Allen was not immediately available.  

“It appears to be a domestic dispute,” Thompson said. “We do believe it was an ongoing issue.”

Thompson said police arrested Portis, of Butler, Alabama, at the hospital and accused him of murder.

Bond for Portis has been set at $500,000. An initial hearing for Portis is scheduled at noon Thursday at the Municipal Court. 

At the police department, Thompson said they had an investigator dedicated solely to domestic violence and assault crimes with a focus on abuse. 

“If you see any signs of physical abuse, get out of it,” Thompson said. “Call the Care Lodge to get protection and assistance.”

The Care Lodge offers plans for victims trying to escape domestic violence situations, Leslie Payne, the director, has previously said. These plans help victims escape their abusers safely since leaving an abuser is often the most dangerous time for a victim.

Thompson said the Care Lodge and police also offered assistance for verbal abuse, such as yelling, that could lead to physical abuse in some cases. 

“Sometimes people think that they can stay in that situation and it’ll get better, but it gets worse,” Thompson said. “We always encourage male or female (victims) to leave these situations.”

Thompson said that, once arrested, the abuser is not permitted to be near the victim because of a protection order, offering another layer of safety to victims who leave. 

“In this case, it ended with an unnecessary death and we’re always trying to prevent that,” Thompson said. 

The Care Lodge offers a Crisis Line at (601) 693-4673 and shelters women and children fleeing abusers. To learn more visit their website carelodge.com.