A brutal case of domestic violence has emerged from DuPage County, where a mother of two was horrifically murdered by her husband, according to local authorities. Baltazar Perez-Estrada, 33, is accused of stabbing his wife, Maricela Simon Franco, 26, dozens of times on March 31, leading to her nearly being decapitated. The murder, which occurred in the presence of the couple's minor children, has sparked a stern response from law enforcement officials, with DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin stating, "The extremely violent end to a young mother’s life is something that should touch us all."
Detectives from the Carol Stream Police Department found out that the incident took place after a verbal altercation turned deadly. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, Perez-Estrada later walked into the police station and confessed to the stabbing. Despite this admission, Perez-Estrada's legal status in the United States has further complicated the matter, as he allegedly arrived in the country illegally from Mexico just two weeks before the incident.
A judge has since denied Perez-Estrada's pretrial release, and he now faces five counts of first-degree murder. "Not only has this senseless and brutal act removed Maricela from their lives, but it has robbed two young children of their mother," Carol Stream Police Chief Don Cummings said, as noted by WBBM Newsradio, reflecting on the gruesome nature of the crime and its impact on the surviving family.
Perez-Estrada, who has also been charged with alien inadmissibility, is due back in court on April 25. State’s Attorney Berlin has vowed to prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law, expressing condolences and emphasizing the need for a strong judicial response to this tragic event. "I offer my sincerest condolences to Maricela's surviving family and friends on their loss and wish them strength as they continue their lives without the love and support provided by Maricela," Berlin stated in comments quoted by The Kansas City Star.
