Jonathan Beal is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Justine Jackson, and burying her body near the Great Allegheny Passage outside of Meyersdale. Investigators from a handful of agencies worked together to find Beal.

As of Wednesday evening, he was still being held in Louisiana, but 6 News learned that police in the region are very familiar with him. Somerset County's district attorney says Beal's violent past has frequently been brought to the attention of state police by people who know him.

"Today they were getting some calls," said Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser. "There were people down in Meyersdale last night that were coming forward to police, (giving) some information."

According to court documents, charges of harassment were filed against Beal in August after a woman came forward telling police Beal put a boot on her neck and said, 'How does it feel to know you could die?"

Clifford Felkeo said he was good friends with both Beal and Jackson.

"Tthey were in a relationship. They were in love," he said. "He was just very upset about the whole thing about her being pregnant and everything like that."

Felkeo said Beal had been talking with old girlfriends recently, particularly one who lives in Louisiana.

"He was trying to hook up with his ex-girlfriend from a long time ago and he was always talking about her," said Felkeo. "I think that's where he would have went."

According to a search warrant filed Tuesday, police took a computer from Beal's stepmother's house that showed him looking up plane tickets to Louisiana. But authorities said they're not sure that's how he got there.

"How did he end up in New Orleans? How did that happen?" said Lazzari-Strasiser. "We're not certain yet."

She said now that Beal has been arrested, she's hopeful more people will come forward.

"People that know him and may have been afraid of him probably will be willing to share the information about who and what he was," she said. "It will continue to unfold."

Beal remains in the custody of the Jefferson Parish sheriff's office in Louisiana awaiting extradition. Lazzari-Strasiser said she hopes he's brought back to Somerset County by next week.