In a disturbing event in Colorado, a man stands accused of the brutal murder of his children’s mother, allegedly transporting her body in a shopping cart for several days before disposing of it in a trash can. The suspect, 38-year-old Thomas Perales, is facing a slew of charges including first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, habitual domestic violence, and two counts of violating a protection order, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado.
The case surfaced on December 4 when the Westminster Police Department initiated an investigation into a suspicious death near Willowbrook Park in Westminster, a suburb north of Denver. The deceased was identified as 37-year-old Annette Valdez, and her death was classified as a homicide. Reports from local media suggest that Valdez’s body was found in a park trash can, and it is speculated that she had been dead for up to six days before her body was discovered.
Perales was apprehended on December 5, having been the last person seen with Valdez. He is the father of Valdez’s children and her ex-boyfriend. Perales, who was homeless, is suspected to have transported Valdez’s body in a shopping cart before abandoning her near a creek. Upon his arrest, Perales allegedly admitted to killing Valdez and displaying her body. The exact cause of Valdez’s death is yet to be determined.
Adam Larson, Valdez’s brother, disclosed that his sister had been a victim of domestic abuse for years. Despite the family’s attempts to separate her from Perales, Valdez always returned to him, stating that he was the father of her children. Larson voiced his suspicion of Perales’ involvement in his sister’s death.
The most recent incident of domestic violence was reported when Valdez called her mother while observing Perales through a Ring camera. Perales was allegedly trying to break into her apartment, damaging the door, and smearing paint on the camera. He had been released from jail on November 21, and Valdez’s family views her death as a preventable tragedy and a failure of the system.
Analisa Larson, Adam Larson’s wife, expressed her frustration with the lack of resources available to Valdez to ensure her safety. She criticized the system for merely providing a protection order without any substantial support when the abuser continues to return. Valdez is remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, mother, and friend, whose life was tragically cut short due to domestic violence. Her family is struggling to come to terms with the unimaginable loss.