Brittany Killgore Murder: New Suspect Charged, 'Help' Text Message Revealed
Police have revealed that a friend of 22-year-old Brittany Killgore received a text message from her saying "Help" on the night she disappeared April 17. The police announcement comes as a friend of Killgore has also been arrested in connection with her disappearance.
Killgore's body was found a few days after she disappeared, beaten and bloodied, and authorities have since been attempting to piece together exactly what happened.
Marine Louis Ray Perez, a friend of Killgore's, has been arrested in connection with her disappearance after police discovered the victim's blood, and a weapon in his car.
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Perez had previously told police that he gave Killgore a ride home the night of her disappearance, but authorities later proved that he had been lying.
Police already had one suspect in custody before arresting Louis Perez; Jessica Lynn Lopez, 25, is being charged with first-degree murder. Police found a suicide note in Lopez's room that detailed Killgore's killing and led them to her body. Police began looking into Lopez's past when Killgore was reported missing by her family and arrested her at the Ramada Inn; she had attempted suicide and required medical care after the arrest.
While authorities are not releasing any details about the murder, police are investigating Perez to determine whether he had a part in her death. He was arrested on Sunday for possession of a stolen AR15 assault rifle, police revealed.
"Mr. Perez was not cooperative or what we felt was fully forthcoming in his interview," Nesbit previously told MSNBC.
It was speculated that Killgore's own husband Lance Cpl. Cory Killgore, was responsible for his wife's disappearance, given that she had filed for divorce only days prior to her missing. Since then, though, police have stated that he is no longer a suspect and have turned their attention to Lopez and Perez. Cory is now speaking out for the first time since the ordeal.
"My wife Brittany was beautiful beyond words and her murder has left me devastated," he said in a statement released yesterday. "My duty to her memory is now to ensure her good reputation remains intact, and help law enforcement and prosecutors secure justice for the person or persons who took her away from me."
Bail has been set at $3 million each for Lopez and Perez, who are due in court on May 30. They face a sentence of life in prison should they be convicted of the murder charges.
