Crime & Safety

Police: Murrieta Man Killed Wife, an Escondido Cop

The suspect is accused of dumping his wife's body in a storage locker. They had a 4-year-old child.

A Murrieta man is suspected of killing his police officer wife and attempting to burn down their house to cover up the crime, authorities revealed today.

Freddy Perez Rojas, 27, was arrested Wednesday night and booked into the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of murder, arson and child endangerment in connection with the death of 25-year-old Laura Perez, an Escondido police officer.

"The Murrieta Police Department has worked closely with the Escondido Police Department from the start of this investigation," said Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad. "Our condolences go out to both Ms. Perez' immediate family, as well as her police family."

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Conrad alleged Rojas shot his wife in the chest during a domestic dispute sometime Wednesday in their house at 24562 Grand Oaks Court. She died at the scene, after which the suspect allegedly transported her body to a Moreno Valley storage locker. Rojas then allegedly returned to the house and set fire to it, unsuccessfully attempting to burn it to the ground, according to police.

The couple's 4-year-old child was not harmed and is now in the care of extended family, Conrad said.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

--City News Service




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