Louis Perez, a person of interest in the case of deceased Fallbrook woman Brittany Killgore, and Jessica Lynn Lopez, the woman accused of murdering Killgore, had either lived together at one point or lived at the same residence at different times, according to legal records.
Killgore was last seen at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13 and was reported missing the next day. On Sunday 45-year-old Perez, who is the last person to be seen with Killgore, was arrested. He is accused of stealing an AR-15 assault rifle and was booked into Vista Detention Facility on $500,000 bail.
The Medical Examiner's office confirmed Wednesday that a deceased female body found in Riverside County was that of Killgore.
Perez was questioned regarding Killgore's disappearance, but detectives said he was uncooperative.
Lopez, 25, was arrested on Tuesday at the Ramada Inn on the 1400 block of Rosecrans Street. She had self-inflicted injuries, according to Lt. Larry Nesbit. She went to UCSD Medical Center for “medical necessity” before being booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility.
Lopez has been charged with first degree murder and awaits an arraignment hearing on Thursday.
It is unknown if Lopez and Perez lived in the residence at the same time, but housing records show that each of them lived at the same residence at one point.
A former neighbor of Lopez's on Rorex Drive told NBC San Diego that Lopez's family still lives in that home.
Perez appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon for an arraignment. While he is not yet charged with the disappearance of Killgore, prosecutors say it was that investigation into Killgore's disappearance that led them to Perez in the first place, which led investigators to that stolen rifle.
Authorities will not say what, if any, role Perez played in Killgore's disappearance. Prosecutors said Perez is a suspect in an ongoing homicide investigation, and did not want to get into any more detail.
Perez’s lawyer argued for a lower bail since Perez is a Marine, who has lived in San Diego County for 10 years, and has a wife here. But the judge refused since Perez knows he is a suspect in a homicide investigation, the judge believes he is considered a flight risk.
Court records reveal two warrants were issued for Lopez’s arrest last year, after she failed to appear in court for traffic citations issued in the North County.
Those citations give two addresses for Lopez, on Rorex Drive in Escondido, and more recently, on Fallbrook Street in Fallbrook.
A neighbor says Lopez has two sisters, one of whom is married to a military man.
The neighbor told us Lopez went to San Pasqual High School and attended a North County community college.
He said Lopez visited her family's home on Rorex Drive at least once this year.
Court records also show two paternity cases involving a Jessica Lynn Lopez, but at least one of those cases has been sealed by the court.
Jessica Lopez's family is represented by Escondido attorney Dean Broyles, who said they are "still reeling" from Lopez's arrest. Broyles is also the Lopez's neighbor.
He told NBC San Diego the Lopez family is asking for privacy while they assist their daughter.
Broyles urged the public to disregard the the rumors and innuendo surrounding Killgore's death, and let the legal system do its job.
"Don't rush to judgment until all the facts are out," he said.
Lopez appeared in court on Thursday afternoon and plead "not guilty" to murder charges. A judge set her bail at $3 million and her next court appearance will be April 27.
The Lopez family later released a statement saying: "We pray for the family of Brittany Killgore and ask that the Lord comfort them during their time of grief and anguish. We ask that you pray for all those impacted by this tragic situation, including our family."
On Wednesday, a source inside the sheriff’s department told NBC 7 San Diego that the home at 317 East Fallbrook Street, where both Lopez and Perez are thought to have lived, may have been a meeting place for sexually deviant behavior.
According to our media partner, The North County Times, neighbors in the area are in disbelief over what may have been happening at that home on East Fallbrook Street.
The North County Times reports that neighbors saw 30 to 40 detectives examining the house on Monday night. Investigators searched the premises with flashlights and took photographs.
Police also allegedly searched a boat that was kept behind the house named “Mischief.”
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