The search is on for a missing Texas boy and his murder-suspect father after the child’s mother was found dead. The daughter of Zuleika Lopez reportedly found her dead inside her home on Tuesday night. Nowhere to be found were the victim’s son, Ian Aguilar, 10, and the boy’s father, Juan Aguilar-Cano, 38.
Police in the Dallas area city of Wilmer only confirmed that the murder victim was a relative with custody of the child, according to KDFW. Law enforcement sources told KXAS, that Aguilar-Cano is Ian’s father and is wanted for killing the mother.
No one had apparently heard from the mother since Friday, according to KDFW.
“It was initially reported as a welfare concern and after some investigation we found that a homicide had been committed. Immediately, our concern was for the 10-year-old boy and his safety,” Wilmer Police Chief Victor Kemp reportedly said.
Police are looking for Ian Aguilar, 10, and his murder-suspect father, Juan Aguilar-Cano, after the child’s sister found the mother, Zuleika Lopez, dead at home. (Images: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Police were called after Lopez’s daughter found her body. A local woman described officers emerging from the scene visibly shaken, KXAS reported.
“When she got inside she found her and that’s when she started screaming and started going crazy,” she said. “I know that the cops work in situations where they find brutal murders, and then for the cops to come outside and be crying — it’s something really horrifying that they saw.”
Another neighbor described recognizing Aguilar-Cano from the photo. He said the suspect lived there with the family and he saw him often.
Another woman said she never saw signs of violence after knowing the family for eight years.
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“We kept saying ‘well where’s the wife, where’s the kid,’ and then we get the Amber Alert and we’re like oh it’s the wife inside,” a neighbor, Marissa Gonzales, said. “They’re a good family. Everyone has their problems, but I didn’t think it would go this far.”
Aguilar-Cano’s family declined to speak beyond telling the outlet they did not know his whereabouts.
Child Protective Services reportedly described having no history at the address or an active investigation.
Ian Aguilar was last seen at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the 20 block of Oakdale St. in the city of Wilmer, according to an Amber Alert post. He is described as Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes. He stands an even 4 feet tall. Authorities don’t know what clothes he was last seen wearing.
Aguilar-Cano is described as white, with black hair and brown eyes. He stands 5 feet, 7 inches and weighs 160 pounds. Authorities don’t know what clothes he was wearing. He too was last seen in Wilmer.
“Law enforcement officials believe this child to be in grave or immediate danger,” authorities wrote.
They ask that anyone with information to please call Wilmer police at 972-441-6565.
Wilmer police said they found the suspect vehicle — a tan 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe with the Texas license plate KVZ1194 — but no sign of either the son or father. It was discovered unoccupied in the Houston area, according to KXAS.
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