EDINBURG -- Toxicology tests could determine whether a man linked to a suspicious death last week will face murder charges, sheriff's deputies said Wednesday.

Investigators arrested George Godinez, 44, of Alamo, on Aug. 27, two days after deputies discovered the body of his friend in a white Jeep Cherokee parked near the intersection of South Val Verde Road and South Street east of Donna.

Early autopsy reports ruled the death of John Peters, 44, of San Juan, a homicide because of a number of suspicious bruises found on his head and chest.

But Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Wednesday he could not say for sure that Godinez was responsible for the man's death.

Godinez has reportedly told investigators Peters died of a drug overdose and that the bruising on his body was inflicted after death.

Treviño refused to discuss Godinez's alleged statements Wednesday, citing the ongoing investigation.

"We have evidence to show that he placed the body in the back of the Jeep, drove it to where it was found and walked home," the sheriff said.

If toxicology tests due out next week confirm Godinez's story, Peters' death will be ruled accidental, the sheriff said. However, if the level of drugs in Peters' system is below the overdose threshold, Godinez will likely face murder charges.

He remained in the Hidalgo County Jail late Wednesday night, charged with abuse of a corpse - a Class A misdemeanor.

If convicted on that charge, he could face up to one year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines. The punishment range would expand to a minimum of five years up to life in prison if the charge is upgraded to murder.

____

Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.