A South Bend man has been found guilty in connection with the death of a woman he began a relationship with while he was in prison for a different crime.

It was October of 2020 when prosecutors say Mark Coleman, 37, killed Nina Sohlke, 47.

Sohlke died of blunt force trauma.

When he was released from prison for his earlier crime, the two moved in together and talked about getting married.

Court documents detailed a pattern of control that followed, including instances where Coleman allegedly prevented the victim from attending doctor’s appointments needed due to a kidney transplant or allowing family members from entering their home to visit Sohlke.

Police discovered Sohlke’s body inside their home. When they found her, they say she had already been dead for days.

The jury also found Coleman guilty of Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

He’ll be sentenced next month.