Man Arrested After Body Is Found In Unregulated South Boston Sober Home

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A Boston man is being accused of killing a 33-year-old woman whose battered body was found in his former room at a home for recovering substance abusers.

Martin E. Jiminez pleaded not guilty to murder Thursday in the death of Melissa Hardy, described by a prosecutor as his "on again, off again" girlfriend.

Police found Hardy's body at an unregulated South Boston sober home Wednesday after her family requested police check on her.

Jiminez was arrested on drunken driving charges Monday and had been hospitalized. The Suffolk district attorney's office said he was arrested again Wednesday as he tried to leave the hospital.

Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley said it was a case of "deadly domestic violence" by a repeat abuser.

Conley's office said Jiminez told witnesses at the hospital that he had killed Hardy.