MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 2011-49
Lucia Chilel Perez
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Worthington, Minnesota
Summary:
Lucia Chilel Perez, a 41-year-old from Worthington, Minnesota, vanished under suspicious circumstances on June 27, 2011, while searching for employment in northwest Iowa. She was traveling with Bernardino Ramirez-Perez, who drove her to Iowa in a maroon Buick Century and returned on June 26 bearing a large scratch on his face, claiming Lucia had been detained in Hull, Iowa for immigration reasons—a story that proved untrue. She has never been heard from again.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
On June 26, 2011, Lucia Chilel Perez left Worthington, Minnesota, with a family acquaintance to look for a job. Family members connected Lucia with 33-year-old Bernardino Ramirez Perez, who agreed to give the soon-to-be 41-year-old Lucia a ride to different businesses around northwest Iowa so she could find employment. The two were last seen together at a northwest Iowa business on June 27, stopping at businesses applying for jobs. Lucia Perez was last seen in Sheldon, Iowa, when she and Ramirez-Perez stopped by a possible employment location. Lucia allegedly saw her brother-in-law at a hog facility and then called her sister around 4 p.m. to say she would be home in a while, and would call when she got back. Her sister never heard from her again. When Bernardino returned to Worthington on June 26, he had a large scratch on his face and he said Lucia had been detained in Hull, Iowa due to an immigration problem, a story which turned out to be untrue.
Additional Details:
The next day, Lucia's adult son, Oscar, had not seen or heard from his mother, and called police. Minnesota officials searched Ramirez-Perez's Buick Century for clues pointing to Lucia Chilel Perez's disappearance. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension processed the maroon Buick Century Ramirez-Perez had been driving but couldn't find evidence pointing to clues in the woman's disappearance. On July 8, 2011, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension designated Lucia an endangered missing person, and asked newspapers to publish news of her disappearance in case anyone knew her whereabouts. Shortly after that, Ramirez Perez placed a call to Worthington police from an international phone number. He wouldn't say where he was. That was the last time investigators were able to talk with him. Bernardino Ramirez-Perez has a long criminal history and four known aliases. He was deported from the U.S. in 2004 but was back by 2006 facing charges of domestic assault. Ramirez-Perez is wanted on a 2005 warrant for kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct and is considered a "person of interest" in Lucia Perez's disappearance. However, there is no physical evidence that points to foul play in Lucia's case. Officially, she's considered "missing under suspicious circumstances." Lucia left behind an adult son and two young children.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension designated Lucia an endangered missing person
Lucia's adult son, Oscar, had not seen or heard from his mother, and called police
Lucia Chilel Perez vanished while searching for employment in northwest Iowa
Associated Persons
Bernardino R. (Person of Interest) - Living
Oscar (Child) - Living
Family Tree
Why is this important?Missing person
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Missing Person
Missing Person
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