Authorities in Oak Ridge are engaged in a manhunt for a suspect charged with first-degree murder following the grim discovery of a woman's body in a pickup truck. Knoxville Police Department received a report Monday afternoon that a man had severely injured his girlfriend at a residence on Mercer Street in North Knoxville, according to a statement obtained by WBIR. The KPD reportedly found indications of a violent assault when officers arrived at the home although both a suspect and the victim were not present.
The victim, an adult woman whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was later found deceased in the bed of a white pickup truck. The vehicle was located at an Oak Ridge park off the Oak Ridge Turnpike near Sweet Gum Lane, as detailed in a news article by WATE. Juan Carlos Diaz Perez has been identified by authorities as the suspect in the alleged homicide after he was believed to have fled the murder scene in the same truck that was later found with the victim inside.
An intensive search is now ongoing for Diaz Perez, concentrated around the Wisconsin Avenue area of Oak Ridge. Knoxville Police Department, joined by the Oak Ridge Police Department, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal Service are all participating in the efforts. Members of the public have been urged to call 9-1-1 if they spot the suspect, who is still considered to be dangerous.
Meanwhile, the official investigation into the homicide is described as both active and ongoing. The victim's body has been slated for examination at the regional forensic center. As the search persists and details continue to surface, the authorities have not released any additional information regarding the circumstances of the assault. For the most current updates, WVLT will provide information as it becomes available.
