Authorities say 45-year-old Angel Downs died in her driveway from a shot to the head.

Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine has been questioned in the case, but has not been arrested. He is being called a person of interest.

Downs was employed by Benchmark Homes for seven years. The president said Downs was a great person and a great asset to the company.

Her body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lab in Mobile where an autopsy was performed Monday, confirming she died of a gunshot wound to the head, but investigators and the Coroner’s Office declined to discuss the autopsy’s results.

Family members declined interview requests Monday but said they disagree with the notion that Downs may have committed suicide.

Nodine is already under investigation after marijuana was found Dec. 23 in his government-issued truck by a maintenance worker at the county’s garage. Nodine has denied that the marijuana belonged to him.

Nodine, who is married with a son, was a regular visitor to the victim’s home, often staying for days at a time, neighbors said.

Captain Steve Arthur with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said the two were in a romantic relationship.

Arthur also said friends mentioned there was a history of verbal abuse between the two.

Investigators added that the two had been arguing since late April.

Deputies are looking into threatening text messages as well. Statements from the victim’s friends and text messages reveal Downs was trying to break off her relationship with Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine in recent days.

Nodine’s county-issued truck could be released as early as Tuesday night. Authorities would not say what, if anything, was seized from the truck.

Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb confirms that in 2006, Downs suffered a drug overdose, and had to be rushed to the hospital. Newcomb said at that time, Downs left a note saying she had hurt a lot of people.

Investigators confirmed Nodine went to a Daphne bar Sunday night before surrendering himself to Baldwin County investigators for questioning. Nodine’s attorney, Matt Green, says the commissioner talked to investigators for four hours.

A captain with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office described Nodine as disoriented and aloof during the questioning. The investigator also said Nodine repeatedly excused himself to go to the bathroom.

Former Mobile County Sheriff Jack Tillman, who held office from 1995 to 2006, says it was common practice during his administration to issue Mobile County commissioners handguns, but says he doesn’t specifically remember giving a weapon to Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine. Mobile County Sheriff’s officials said their records indicate that Nodine was issued a .40-caliber Glock pistol in July 2004.

Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb has confirmed that the weapon police recovered did not match the description of the gun that records show Nodine was given.

Current Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran says he has not continued the practice of issuing handguns to commissioners.

Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine did not attend Monday’s county commission meeting, less than twelve hours after he was questioned in a shooting death investigation.

Nodine’s attorney, Matt Green, says the commissioner talked to investigators for four hours. Green, who would not comment on the nature of Nodine’s relationship with the victim, insists his client is cooperating.