CAROL STREAM, IL – A man, who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico two weeks prior, is now facing charges for the brutal murder of his wife, Maricela Simon Franco, 26, in the presence of their two young children.
The incident unfolded on April 1, 2024, when Baltazar Perez-Estrada walked into the Carol Stream Police Department in Illinois around 11:30 a.m. He informed the authorities that he had stabbed his wife. The police immediately took Perez-Estrada into custody and initiated an investigation.
During their probe, the authorities learned that Perez-Estrada had crossed the U.S. border illegally from Mexico. He was charged with alien inadmissibility, given a future court date, and allowed to continue his journey into the U.S.
The prosecutors claim that a verbal altercation between Perez-Estrada and his wife escalated around 10 p.m. in their apartment. The dispute turned violent, and Perez-Estrada allegedly stabbed Franco multiple times in her head, neck, body, and hands. The attack was so severe that Franco was nearly decapitated and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The couple’s two children were reportedly present during the alleged murder.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Carol Stream Chief of Police Don Cummings expressed their condolences to Franco’s family and friends. They emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence and pledged to work towards justice for Franco.
On April 7, the court granted the state’s request to detain Perez-Estrada before the trial. He now faces five counts of first-degree murder and is expected to appear in court again on April 25.