Baltazar Perez-Estrada: Illegal migrant charged with murdering wife in Illinois over infidelity suspicions

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

ILLINOIS: Baltazar Perez-Estrada, a 32-year-old migrant residing in the state illegally, stands accused of brutally murdering his wife, Maricela Simon Franco, in front of one of their daughters.

The tragic event unfolded following a heated argument between the couple on Sunday, April 31, allegedly triggered by Perez-Estrada's discovery of his wife's suspected affair.

Baltazar Perez-Estrada confesses his crime

According to prosecutors, Perez-Estrada unleashed a violent attack on his 26-year-old wife, repeatedly stabbing her with a knife, leaving her with grievous injuries, including nearly severing her head, Fox 32 reported. “The extremely violent end to a young mother’s life is something that should touch us all,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin claimed.

Moreover, Perez-Estrada reportedly walked into the Carol Stream police station the day after the incident and confessed to a social services worker about killing his wife, leading to his subsequent arrest and murder charges. The couple's daughter, who witnessed the horrific scene, reportedly saw her father "hitting" her mother with a knife during the argument.

Couple's marital strain and illegal immigration

Further insights from the victim's uncle revealed that Maricela had been contemplating ending her nine-year marriage with Perez-Estrada before the fatal altercation occurred.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Perez-Estrada had entered the United States illegally from the southern border just a month prior to the incident. He had been residing in Mexico before this. Despite this, he had been released with a future court date after his apprehension.

“Domestic violence continues to be a scourge on society, claiming more than ten million victims a year in some form or fashion,” Berlin, the state’s attorney, emphasized. “In this case, the sad reality is, Maricela’s life has been reduced to a statistic of domestic violence due to the alleged actions of her husband, Baltazar Perez-Estrada.”

Baltazar Perez-Estrada was charged with five counts of first-degree murder and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 25.