The chilling discovery of a crime scene in a Southern California apartment has spiraled into an expansive investigation stretching from coast to coast. Murrieta police describe the case as a rarity for their community, with allegations surfacing of a murder-for-hire scheme involving the victim’s former girlfriend and three additional suspects.
On the morning of January 13, 2026, officers from the Murrieta Police Department were dispatched to The Arbors at California Oaks apartments. There, they uncovered the body of a man inside one of the units, immediately treating the situation as a homicide.
The deceased was later confirmed by his family as 30-year-old Aaron “AJ” Parr—a beloved son, brother, and father whose sudden death has left those close to him in shock.
Within two weeks, authorities apprehended Ignacia Perkins, the victim’s ex-girlfriend, along with James Petri, described by officials as an acquaintance of Perkins.
However, the investigation soon expanded beyond the borders of California.
As detectives sifted through various physical and digital clues, they collaborated with law enforcement agencies nationwide, eventually identifying two additional suspects potentially linked to the crime.
On March 18, authorities arrested Jerry Wheeler, 34, in Brookhaven, Georgia, and Kenneth Maxwell, 39, in Midfield, Alabama. Both men are now awaiting extradition to California.
Police say the case centers on an alleged murder carried out for financial gain, along with a broader conspiracy to make it happen.
Authorities in Murrieta are investigating an alleged murder-for-hire plot in what they describe as an unusual case for the area. (Murrieta Police Department Facebook)
Wheeler and Maxwell each face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder and a special circumstance allegation that the killing was done for financial gain, police said.
The arrests were carried out with help from multiple agencies, including Brookhaven Police and North Metro SWAT in Georgia, as well as FBI teams in Alabama.
Murrieta is generally considered a relatively safe city, with a crime rate about 2.2 times lower than the national average, according to City-Data.
Aaron “AJ” Parr, the victim in a Murrieta, California homicide tied to an alleged murder-for-hire plot, is seen in an undated photo. (Lexi Parr Facebook)
For Parr’s family, the arrests have brought a complicated mix of grief and relief.
“The world kept moving, but ours stopped the day we lost you,” a woman identifying herself as Parr’s sister wrote in a social media post weeks after his death. “Not a moment goes by that you aren’t on our minds… in our tears, and in our prayers.”
She said the arrests have offered “a small sense of relief” as the case moves forward, though the pain remains.
“There is no celebration in it, because nothing will ever bring you back,” she wrote.
A fundraiser created for the family describes Parr as a beloved son and brother, and says his parents are “salt-of-the-earth people” who have spent their lives serving others. The funds are intended to help cover funeral costs and other unexpected expenses following his death.
Authorities say the latest arrests mark a major turning point in the case, effectively wrapping up the active phase of the investigation as detectives shift focus toward preparing for a potential trial.
Investigators have not released details about how the alleged plot unfolded or the specific roles each suspect may have played, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
