Daughter with history of family violence charged after mother found dead at west Harris County home, authorities say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A woman has been charged with murder after her 64-year-old mother was found dead inside a west Harris County home.

Kristen Woods, 39, is accused of fatally striking her mother, Mary Louise Purzer, and according to court documents, Woods has a history of family violence.

On Monday morning, deputies were sent to conduct a welfare check at the woman’s home in the 3400 block of Boxelder Drive near Addicks-Clodine.

Sgt. Dennis Wolfford with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said, when deputies arrived, they noticed a large amount of trash in the front yard which wasn’t a normal occurrence. Upon entry, they found Purzer dead.

Wolfford said the victim’s body appeared to show “possible signs of trauma” and there was a large amount of blood at the scene. Investigators said she was struck with an unknown object.

Investigators began to look for Woods, just to question her in the case.

She was arrested the same day by Houston police on an unrelated charge and subsequently held responsible in her mother’s death.

Woods was booked into the Harris County Jail and her bond was set at $500,000.

According to court documents, Woods has a lengthy criminal history, including previous charges of assault-bodily injury, assault of a family member, trespassing, and possession of marijuana.