A man from Colorado has been charged with the murder of the mother of his children after allegedly transporting her body in a shopping trolley for several days before discarding it in a trash bin.
Thomas Perales, 38, faces charges including first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, domestic violence as a habitual offender, and violating protection orders, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado.
The investigation began on December 4 when the Westminster Police Department in Colorado started looking into a suspicious death near Willowbrook Park in Westminster. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Annette Valdez, and her death is being treated as a homicide.
Local reports revealed that Valdez’s body was found in a park rubbish bin, with indications that she had been deceased for up to six days before being discovered. Perales, who was said to be the last person seen with her, was apprehended by authorities on December 5. He is known to be the father of Valdez’s children and her former partner.
Following his arrest, Perales reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he had killed Valdez and confessed to moving her body around. He stated to a witness that he had been pushing her in a shopping cart to different locations before abandoning her near a creek.
The exact cause of Valdez’s death remains undetermined, though her brother, Adam Larson, disclosed that she had endured years of abuse from Perales. Larson expressed frustration over the situation, indicating that despite efforts to protect Valdez, she repeatedly returned to her abuser citing him as the father of her children.
Authorities revealed that the chain of events leading to Valdez’s demise initiated when she contacted her mother upon observing Perales through a Ring camera system. It was reported that Perales vandalized the door, damaged the camera, and attempted to break into Valdez’s residence. Valdez’s family expressed disappointment in the justice system, feeling that her tragic end could have been prevented.
An analysis of the situation by Analisa Larson, Adam Larson’s wife, highlighted the inadequacy of available resources for victims of domestic violence, emphasizing the challenges faced in enforcing protection orders effectively.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of Valdez, describing her as a cherished individual lost too soon due to domestic violence.