Murder, Arson Charges Filed Against Murrieta Man

A Murrieta man accused of killing his police officer wife and setting their house aflame to cover up the crime was charged today with murder and arson.

Freddy Perez Rodas, 27, was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of killing 25-year-old Laura Perez, an Escondido police officer and mother of his 4-year-old daughter.

Along with the felony counts, Rodas, is facing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad alleged that Rodas shot his wife in the chest three times during a domestic dispute sometime Wednesday in their house at 24562 Grand Oaks Court. She died at the scene, after which the defendant allegedly transported her body to a Moreno Valley storage locker, then returned to the house and set fire to it.

Fire crews arrived around 6:30 p.m. and quickly extinguished the flames, immediately identifying the cause of the blaze as arson, Conrad said.

He said Rodas, who called to report the fire, had also reported his wife missing, indicating she might still be in the house. The story raised suspicions and Rodas was detained, according to the lieutenant.

"During questioning overnight, Rodas admitted killing his wife and burning the location in an attempt to cover up the crime," Conrad alleged.

Rodas took detectives to where he had dumped his wife's remains, according to Conrad.

He said the couple's daughter was not harmed and is now in the care of extended family. Investigators did not reveal the child's whereabouts when the alleged murder occurred, but Rodas was booked on suspicion of child endangerment, though prosecutors elected not to file that charge.

--City News Service