A former roommate described the bondage, discipline and sadomasochism (BDSM) lifestyle and power struggles going on between the three defendants in the murder trial of a North County Marine wife.
U.S. Marine Louis Ray Perez, Jessica Lynn Lopez and Dorothy Grace Marie Maraglino face murder charges in the death of Marine wife Brittany Killgore.
Killgore, 22, of Fallbrook was found dead near Lake Skinner in Riverside County on April 17 - three days after she was reported missing.
As the investigation into Killgore’s death expanded, more details were revealed about the unusual family dynamic that existed between Perez, Lopez and Maraglino in a home on East Fallbrook Street.
Timeline: Brittany Killgore Murder Investigation
On Tuesday a former roommate testified at the preliminary hearing, describing the BDSM culture inside the home including “play scenes”, “needle play”, dominants and submissives.
Lopez and Maraglino had a slave/mistress relationship and had a contract describing that relationship according to testimony heard Tuesday.
Perez was referred to as “Master” the former roommate testified.
The woman explained how a slave would normally go through a year-long training period that included personal hygiene checks, field trips only with permission, household chores and financial obligations to the home.
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She explained how she met Killgore in early to mid-2011 after Maraglino met a woman named "Liz."
Killgore’s friend Elizabeth Hernandez testified Monday that she met Maraglino when she was shopping for a fertility monitor through the Pendleton Yard Sales site.
Soon after, Hernandez and Killgore visited the home several times to hang out or watch movies.
At times, Maraglino would bake and the women would share recipes or discuss their challenges of infertility according to Hernandez.
Hernandez testified she knew about the activities that took place at the home and even described a “spider web” on the wall that was used to tie someone up.
However, Hernandez (pictured right) testified she and Killgore did not participate in the BDSM behavior.
“We were both curious, we never heard of something like that,” she testified adding that she once told Maraglino that she respected her lifestyle as long as she didn’t have anything to do with it.
The former roommate testified Maraglino, who she called “Dee,” thought Liz was submissive and would fit in well in the community.
“She liked Brittany because she thought she could be controlling and be a good dominant,” the witness said.
After leaving the witness stand Tuesday, the former roommate embraced Brittany Killgore’s family.
She testified that she came forward because she felt she owed it to Brittany to be able to give her parents closure.
