Fatima Perez, 41, was trying to buy a car off Craigslist in Camden, New Jersey when police say she was kidnapped, covered in lime and buried alive 20 miles outside of Camden in Monroe Township, New Jersey. Perez died of asphyxiation and two men have been charged for her murder.
Here’s what you need to know about Perez:
1. She Knew the Men Accused of Killing Her
#PHOTOS–> Arraignment in slaying of #Camden resident Fatima Perez: http://t.co/4WcRwm1Eef pic.twitter.com/5ZDgaHQeii
— Courier-Post (@cpsj) May 15, 2014
Perez knew Carlos Alicea-Antonetti, a landscaper, and his co-worker, Ramon Oritz, who both worked at her home on North 41st Street in Camden.
The New York Daily News reports Perez accepted a ride from Alicea-Antonetti in order to purchase a car she saw listed on Craigslist. Perez’s specific address is unknown.
2.Police Found the Men Hiding in a Hotel
According to the Courier-Post, police found both Alicea-Antonetti and Ortiz hiding in an room at the Express Inn in Cherry Creek, New Jersey. Alicea-Antonetti allegedly had roughly $7,000 in his possession and the Courier-Post reports Perez had roughly $8,000 in her possession when she left with Alicea-Antonetti to purchase the car. Ortiz lead investigators to Perez’s burial site on Wednesday morning.
3.Perez Was Born in Nicaragua
Perez was born in Nicaragua and moved to Camden nine years ago, CBS News reports.
4. Her Sister Said She Was Too Trusting
According to WABC-TV in New York, Perez’s sister, Vanessa Castro, said her sister’s trusting nature and protective instincts for her children may have lead to her murder:
“My sister would do anything and everything for her kids and I’m sure if my sister had to fight for her life, the reason she was fighting for was for her kids,” said Castro.
5. Perez Is Survived by Two Children
Perez is survived by two children: her 21-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, according to CBS Philly.