In Colorado, a man is facing charges for allegedly killing the mother of his children and moving her body in a shopping cart before discarding it in a trash bin.
Thomas Perales, 38, has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, habitual domestic violence, and violating protection orders by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began on December 4 when authorities in Westminster, near Denver, looked into a suspicious death near Willowbrook Park. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Annette Valdez, was found in a park garbage bin, believed to have been deceased for up to six days. Perales, Valdez’s former partner and father of her children, was arrested on December 5 as the last person seen with her.
Perales, who is homeless, reportedly confessed to pushing Valdez in a shopping cart before leaving her near a creek. The exact cause of Valdez’s death is unknown, but her brother, Adam Larson, revealed that she had endured years of abuse.
Larson expressed frustration at the lack of resources for victims of domestic violence, mentioning that Valdez had sought help through a protection order but was still targeted by Perales. Valdez’s family believes her tragic death could have been prevented if adequate support had been provided.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to honor Valdez, highlighting her as a cherished individual lost to domestic violence.