Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Maria Trinidad Perez, 36, who is believed to have absconded with her three sons following the death of their guardian. West Palm Beach Police Department has initiated a thorough search for the missing siblings, who have not been seen since they were picked up by a rideshare service on May 8 from their uncle's home in the early hours of the morning.
As reported by CBS12, the mother of Nicholas Garnica Perez, 8, Gabriel Garnica Perez, 13, and Juan Pablo Garnica Perez, 16, now faces three counts of interfering with child custody. Details provided by the West Palm Beach Police Department spokesperson Mike Jachles indicated an ongoing concern for the boys' safety, exacerbated by their absence from school since the incident. Authorities attempted to make contact with Perez multiple times, but she has remained elusive, complicating the investigation and prompting the warrant for her arrest.
According to BocaNewsNow.com, Perez refused to cooperate with police after they sought to arrange a meeting through the boys' attorney. After Perez ignored a final attempt by West Palm Beach Police Department Special Victims Unit detectives to negotiate a meeting without arrest, a Palm Beach County judge signed off on the arrest warrant on Monday night.
In a statement obtained by CBS12, Jachles said: "What we needed to do at that point was just to put eyes on these kids, and make sure they were OK. Given the circumstances, things are understandable. However, she turned the tables on us." The police have since been searching different leads and locales, including hotels where Perez was thought to have stayed. The WPBPD urges anyone with information about the whereabouts of Perez or her sons to call 911 immediately, referencing case #7991.
Maria Perez is described as a Hispanic woman, around 5-feet 3-inches tall. The children and their mother's current location remains unknown, and the West Palm Beach Police Department continues to ask the public for any insight that could lead to finding the three brothers. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the WPBPD at 561-822-1900, mentioning the relevant case number.
