Indio man charged with stepdaughter’s murder
An Indio man accused of killing his 19-year-old stepdaughter last month in the Salton Sea community of Oasis is believed to be in Mexico, sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday.
Indio resident Abraham Perez Romero AKA Jose Ramirez Arenas, 41, was charged Tuesday with the murder of Wendy Vargas, a 19-year-old from Thermal.
Vargas’ body was found on Dec. 14 at a home on the 88000 block of Avenue 70 in Oasis. The exact cause of her death has not been released.
Read: East valley homicide investigation underway
Investigators are treating the crime as a domestic incident, there are no other outstanding suspects. Romero’s last known location is believed to be in Mexico.
Deputies believe that Romero fled to Mexico on Dec. 14. His last known address in Indio was a house in the 44000 block of Warren Street.
Romero was described as Hispanic, 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Read: Family, friends mourn murdered east valley woman
Anyone with information about Romero’s whereabouts should contact 911 in an emergency, or contact Investigator Dickey at (951) 955-0896.
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
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