A Long Beach man is accused of killing his longtime partner and driving her body across the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.
Officials identified the suspect as 44-year-old Erick Alcantar Almanza, who was arrested in connection with the death of Aracely Romero, the mother of his five children. According to Baja California prosecutor Miguel Angel Gaxiola, Almanza allegedly smuggled Romero’s body through multiple border checkpoints between San Diego and Tijuana before being taken into custody on Sunday.
The investigation began when a woman contacted Mexican authorities, reporting that her son had killed the mother of his children. Detectives believe Almanza murdered Romero in Long Beach, then drove her body to Mexico over the weekend.
“Looking at the records, this appears to be what we have; this could be the second or third similar case where someone crosses the border with a deceased person and tries to hide it in Tijuana,” Gaxiola said. “Right now, we are exchanging information to try to locate the scene of the crime that occurred there in Long Beach.”
The couple’s eldest son told NBC4 that the family last saw their mother on Friday. He said Almanza later called his children while driving and allegedly confessed to killing Romero.
The son added that his father had long struggled with mental health issues. The couple shared five children whose ages range between 16 and 26.
Almanza reportedly told investigators he and Romero argued before her death, though authorities have not disclosed a motive. The cause of death has not yet been released.
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