Mark Small, the Elmont man charged with murdering 39-year-old Marivel Estevez before he fled and was hit by a car trying to protect her dog, had a “tumultuous” relationship with the victim, police said, according to multiple reports.

“Their relationship was described by friends and family as tumultuous and she confided in friends and family that she wanted to leave Mark,” Nassau County Det. Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick said at a news conference last week, according to News 12.

Small, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for his alleged role in the murder of Marivel Estevez, police said.

Small has pleaded not guilty and was ordered to be held without bail, according to police.

Officers responded to a wellness check July 30 at the Allure at 140 Old Country Road,  where they discovered Estevez, who lived in the building and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“During the evening, it is believed that Mark and Marivel had an argument or a domestic incident. During that domestic incident, Mark shot her multiple times,” Fitzpatrick said about the incident that took place July 28.

The Allure, formerly known as Modera Mineola, is a 275-unit, five-story luxury building with a swimming pool and 24-hour fitness studio.

Small had a key fob to the apartment and police said family and friends told them the two had previous domestic disputes, according to News 12. 

After leaving the apartment Thursday night, Small drove off in Estevez’s car with her dog, heading west on the Long Island Expressway, News 12 quoted police as saying.

“At approximately Exit 37, he was involved in an accident,” Fitzpatrick said. “He got out of the vehicle, the dog got out of the car and when going to block it from getting hit by a car, Mark got hit by a car.”

Small was released from the hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries and was arraigned Aug. 3.

Small’s next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29.