Woman allegedly killed by her stalker in murder-suicide

PHOENIX, AZ – Two individuals were discovered deceased inside a vehicle in a West Phoenix parking lot in early July, with one of the victims identified as a missing 25-year-old woman, according to police.

The deceased, found on July 7 around 8:25 p.m., were identified as Doris Maricela Aguilar, who had been reported missing since July 1, and 51-year-old Juan Jose Velis Cuellar. Witnesses reported that the car had been stationary for several days before the bodies were discovered.

According to Phoenix police, Cuellar had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a firearm was found in the vehicle. Aguilar’s injuries, however, were not self-inflicted. The relationship between Aguilar and Cuellar was known to the police but details were not fully disclosed.

A private investigator hired by Aguilar’s family, Steve Fischer, stated that Aguilar had expressed fear of Cuellar, who had allegedly been stalking her for over a year. Fischer revealed that Aguilar and Cuellar had previously worked together at a distribution center, where Cuellar was dismissed following inappropriate advances towards Aguilar.

Despite his termination, Cuellar reportedly continued to harass Aguilar, showing up at gyms where she worked out, and sending her a barrage of messages that ranged from confessions of his love to disturbing threats. Fischer noted, “He was obsessed to the point where he had a picture of her taped to the back of his cell phone.”

In the days leading up to her disappearance, Aguilar told family members she was going to the store, but her car was later found abandoned with her belongings inside. Shortly thereafter, police made the grim discovery of her and Cuellar’s bodies.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding these deaths is ongoing. Meanwhile, Aguilar’s family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to transport her remains back to Honduras.