Authorities are currently on the hunt for a man from Los Angeles who has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend and is suspected of escaping to Mexico with their 5-year-old child.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on May 28 that they have filed charges against Ruben Fregosojuarez, also known as Ruben Fregoso, for one count of murder and one count of misdemeanor child abuse.
The suspect, aged 40, is alleged to have taken the life of his 36-year-old girlfriend around May 25.
On that day, Los Angeles Police were dispatched to a location on the 2600 block of South Alsace Avenue for a welfare check at 12:39 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered a deceased adult female inside the residence.
Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that the victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, “died as a result of violence.” While police reports labeled her as Fregosojuarez’s wife, the district attorney’s office identified her as his girlfriend.
Ruben Fregosojuarez Allegedly Fled to Mexico With Daughter
Prosecutors believe that after the killing, Fregosojuarez fled to Mexico with the couple’s 5-year-old daughter Daleyza Fregoso.
“The killing of a mother and the abduction of a young child is the kind of violence that shocks the entire community,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said the announcement from his office. “I cannot imagine the grief and fear that the innocent child faced as she was allegedly snatched after her mother was killed.”
Police said that Fregosojuarez had allegedly made statements “indicating he intended to flee the country,” before he disappeared.
Though an Amber Alert initially reported the pair were believed to be traveling in a white 2019 Land Rover Discovery, the California Highway Patrol told NBC 4 that the vehicle was later recovered inside the parking lot of the San Ysidro Point of Entry near the border to Mexico.
Fregosojuarez and his daughter were not there at the time, although surveillance footage obtained by the news outlet allegedly showed a man carrying a suitcase and holding a little girl’s hand before the vehicle was discovered, the outlet reported.
The man was wearing a black vest with ripped jeans and had on a black hat. The child was wearing a light blue shirt and sweatpants.
Oxygen reached out to the California Highway Patrol for additional comment, but did not receive an immediate reply.
Search Continues For Ruben Fregosojuarez and His Daughter
As the search continues, authorities said they are committed to finding both Fregosojuarez and his daughter.
“The defendant will face his day in court,” Hochman said, “and our Family Violence Division will pursue every available resource and work with federal and Mexican law enforcement authorities to seek justice for the woman whose life was stolen and for the child caught in this tragedy.”
Anyone who sees Fregosojuarez is urged to call 911. Police have also asked that anyone with information on the case to contact the Robbery Homicide Division, South Bureau Section detectives at (323) 786-5100.