The husband of a woman who has gone missing, claimed that she was taken by immigration agents. However, surveillance footage later revealed him dragging a heavy, wrapped object from their home before he was found dead in the woods.
The body of 33-year-old Sheila Guitierrez was discovered in the Angeles National Forest on Saturday morning, four days after she was first reported missing from their apartment in Lancaster, Los Angeles County, as detailed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Guitierrez’s family, her husband, Josimar Cabrera, now a suspect in her death, originally made various excuses about her disappearance, claiming she had been taken by agents, left with another man, or was involved in an accident.
Search and rescue teams found her body wrapped in a greenish material similar to what Cabrera was seen carrying through the family’s apartment building, as reported by KTLA.
The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office is set to determine her cause of death.
Since the incident, Cabrera, 36, has fled to Peru with their children. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with local authorities to facilitate his return to the U.S.
Video evidence acquired by KTLA shows Cabrera allegedly being detained by Peruvian authorities, although it remains uncertain if he will be extradited. Should he return to the U.S., he is expected to face murder charges.
The sheriff’s office stated, “Jossimar Cabrera is believed to be in Peru, and further investigations are required to ensure he faces justice.”
The couple’s three children have been located in Peru and are currently in the care of their maternal grandmother, according to Guitierrez’s family.
Guitierrez’s mother revealed to ABC7 that her daughter had previously reported her husband for domestic violence in Peru, and during their last conversation, she mentioned plans to file a report in the U.S.
