Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and others associated with the MAGA movement are calling out the Biden administration after an illegal migrant in Chicago allegedly murdered his wife and nearly decapitated her.
Baltazar Perez-Estrada, 32, of Carol Stream, Illinois, was arrested and charged on Monday on five counts of first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his wife, Maricela Simon Franco, 26, around 10 p.m. the previous evening in the head, neck, body and hands—nearly decapitating her, according to a statement issued by DuPage County officials and shared with Newsweek. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Perez-Estrada, who authorities say arrived in the U.S. illegally from Mexico just two weeks ago, entered the Carol Stream Police Department at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday and allegedly admitted that he stabbed and killed his wife.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
He was charged by the U.S. government with alien inadmissibility and given a future court date. The couple’s two children were both present at the time of the incident.
On Thursday, a judge denied the suspect’s pretrial release. He is due back in court on April 25, according to DuPage County court records.
“[President Joe] Biden is letting monsters in our country,” Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Animal is too nice of a word to describe this man [Perez-Estrada].
“He’s a monster. [Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas is running the open border that is letting these things in America. When we deliver the articles, [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer better hold a trial.”
Greene, who has been an outspoken House lawmaker in favor of impeaching Mayorkas, has previously warned Schumer that he and Democrats would “face the wrath” if articles of impeachment are shelved.
X user @MISCHIEF, a self-described “MAGA aficionado,” used the hashtag #BidenMigrantMurder in response to the homicide.
“JOE BIDEN’S AMERICA,” wrote @Rachel4Trump_45, a MAGA supporter. “He was just arrested in Chicago for kiIIing/beheading his wife in front of his kids. CLOSE THE DAMN BORDER!”
DuPage County Attorney’s Office
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Carol Stream Police Chief Don Cummings said in a joint statement that Perez-Estrada and Franco were at the apartment together on Sunday evening and got into a verbal altercation at approximately 10 p.m., which eventually turned physical and led to the stabbings.
“First and foremost, I offer my sincerest condolences to Maricela’s surviving family and friends on their loss and wish them strength as they continue their lives without the love and support provided by Maricela,” Berlin said. “The extremely violent end to a young mother’s life is something that should touch us all. Domestic violence continues to be a scourge on society, claiming more than ten million victims a year in some form or fashion.
“In this case, the sad reality is, Maricela’s life has been reduced to a statistic of domestic violence due to the alleged actions of her husband, Baltazar Perez-Estrada. This brutal, senseless act of violence alleged against Mr. Perez-Estrada will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
A spokesperson from the DuPage office referred Newsweek to Berlin’s statement.
Cummings also expressed his condolences towards this “tragic loss.”
“Not only has this senseless and brutal act removed Maricela from their lives, but it has robbed two young children of their mother,” the chief said. “As domestic violence continues to victimize so many, law enforcement within DuPage County stands ready to partner with available social service programs to provide a sustainable resolution to those in need.”
Newsweek reached out via email to Carol Stream Police for further comment.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.