Denton man sought in estranged wife's North Texas murder after SUV found in New Mexico, police say
A man wanted on a murder warrant in connection with his estranged wife's disappearance remains on the run after investigators traced his SUV from North Texas to a hotel in New Mexico, Denton police said.
Surveillance footage from the hotel showed a man resembling 49-year-old Richard Pastor Perez leaving the SUV behind, according to police. His estranged wife, 42-year-old Marjulin Daiuru Briceno Arrieta, has not been found.
"Before her disappearance, Marjulin had never gone a day without seeing her children," interim Denton Police Chief Tony Salas said.
Three children learn their mother is believed dead
During a news conference, Salas said investigators met with Briceno Arrieta's family Tuesday morning, telling them that evidence collected during the investigation, including DNA evidence, suggests she is dead.
Among those learning the devastating news were her three children, who had held out hope their mother was still alive.
"They didn't understand. They still had hope," said Denisse Carrera, a family supporter who has become an advocate for the children.
Carrera accompanied Briceno Arrieta's daughter to Denton police headquarters as the family confronted the news.
"She was a mother of three kids, and she left a bad situation to give her kids a better life," Carrera said. "And now there's three kids that are left to fend … They're by themselves."
Carrera said she had hoped to help reunite the children with their mother. Now she is struggling to explain what investigators believe happened.
"My hope was that I was going to advocate for them and that we were going to reunite them with their mom," Carrera said. "Now this is so different, and I don't know how I'm going to tell little one … his mom is not coming back."
What police know about the woman's disappearance
According to police, Briceno Arrieta met Perez around 6:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at his apartment in the 1900 block of North Ruddell Street in Denton. Her family contacted the police when they could not reach either of them. Relatives feared for her safety because Perez had reportedly abused her in the past.
Police later found Briceno Arrieta's abandoned vehicle near Perez's apartment, but his white 2013 Ford Escape was gone. Investigators determined the SUV's license plate had been changed. The plate number was XLC1016.
Police said they also found a wallet believed to belong to Briceno Arrieta.
Investigators trace suspect's SUV across state lines
License plate reader records placed Perez's SUV on Highway 287 in Wichita Falls around 9 p.m. Sept. 28. Another detection put the vehicle in Donley County, southeast of Amarillo, shortly after 1 a.m. Sept. 29. Later that night, just before 10:45 p.m., the SUV was recorded heading west on Interstate 40, west of Amarillo.
On Sept. 30, Albuquerque police found the SUV after receiving an alert tied to its license plate. Investigators obtained hotel surveillance footage showing the vehicle pulling into the parking lot. A man whose appearance matched Perez's description got out and left the SUV there. Police said no one else appeared with him in the video.
As of Tuesday afternoon, investigators had not found Perez or Briceno Arrieta.
"This is not something that we believe is going to be solved overnight," Salas said. "It's a very difficult and complicated case."
Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000 for information leading to Perez's arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477) or visit Denton County Crime Stoppers.
