HOUSTON —  Texas officials are crediting "The Passion of the Christ" (search) with helping to solve a crime.

A Houston detective says a man who saw the movie and then talked to a spiritual adviser has confessed to murdering a woman. A coroner had ruled the pregnant woman's death by hanging a suicide.

The woman's body was found in her apartment southwest of Houston in January. The detective says all physical evidence pointed to suicide.

He says the perpetrator "was very, very meticulous," wearing gloves and leaving none of his own DNA behind. Officials say the pregnancy appears to be the motive -- with the perpetrator believing he was the father.

The detective says suspect Dan Leach apparently felt that "to have redemption he would have to confess his sin and do his time." The 21-year-old faces up to life in prison if convicted.