In Colorado, a man faces charges for allegedly killing the mother of his children and transporting her body in a shopping cart before discarding it in a trash bin. Thomas Perales, 38, is accused of first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, habitual domestic violence, and violating protective orders.
The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado filed charges against Perales after the discovery of a suspicious death near Willowbrook Park in Westminster. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Annette Valdez, is being treated as a homicide case by authorities.
Valdez’s body was found in a park trash bin, believed to have been there for up to six days before being found. Perales, who was apprehended on December 5 and identified as Valdez’s former partner and father of her children, was reportedly the last person seen with her.
Following his arrest, Perales confessed to authorities that he had killed Valdez and admitted to moving her body around in a shopping cart before abandoning her near a creek. The cause of Valdez’s death remains unknown, but her brother revealed that she had endured years of abuse at the hands of Perales.
According to Valdez’s family, she had sought help multiple times due to domestic violence incidents involving Perales, including a recent attempt to break into her residence. Perales had been released from prison shortly before the tragic event, leaving Valdez’s family feeling let down by the system and believing her death could have been prevented.
Valdez’s tragic demise due to domestic violence has prompted her family to create a GoFundMe page to honor her memory and raise awareness about the impact of such violence.
