Shaima Alawadi, 32, died three days after her 17-year-old daughter found her unconscious in the dining room of their El Cajon home on March 21. Police said a threatening note was left near the body.
But according to court papers, a family member told investigators the woman was planning to divorce her husband and move to Texas.
The documents also show the woman's teenage daughter was distraught over a pending arranged marriage to her cousin. While police interviewed her after the attack, she got a text message reading, "The detective will find out tell them (can't) talk," according to the search warrant affidavit.
Police have said they're investigating the beating death as a possible hate crime, but stressed they're also looking at other possible scenarios. No arrests have been made.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
