Man accused of strangling pregnant girlfriend at Orange County apartment complex

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando man has been arrested after deputies said he killed his pregnant girlfriend.

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Orange County deputies have charged Pierre Floriant, 41, with the murder of Joanna Gomes-Simo, 29 and the death of her unborn child.

Officials said the death happened around 9 a.m. Thursday inside of an apartment on Pointe Vista Circle.

Original report: Body of woman in her 20s discovered at Orange County apartment complex

Deputies said they were called to the home for a well-being check by family members.

According to a report, Floriant was inside the apartment when police arrived and they found Gomes-Simo unconscious.

Deputies said her death was from apparent strangulation.

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Deputies said Floriant was arrested for a previous domestic violence incident in December.

According to a report, Floriant had attacked Gomes-Simo in December because he was upset that she would not get an abortion.

Gomes-Simo told law enforcement that she had been abused and assaulted by Floriant other times before the December incident.

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Floriant was taken to the Orange County Jail.

Anyone suffering from domestic abuse can call Harbor House of Central Florida and its 24-hour crisis line at 407-886-2856.

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