A Fort Worth murder suspect is in custody after an apparent domestic violence incident left a 26-year-old woman dead and temporarily separated her infant son from family members.
Elijah Perez, 27, was arrested in El Paso on murder charges following the discovery of Talia Sanchez’s body in her Fort Worth apartment near the 7300 block of Harris Parkway, authorities confirmed.
The couple’s 7-month-old son, Levi, had been missing for several days, triggering concern from family members and law enforcement. The child was eventually dropped off at a relative’s home in New Mexico and has since been reunited with Sanchez’s mother.
“This is believed to be a domestic-related incident, and with all the information that homicide gathered at the scene, they were able to share that information with other law enforcement agencies, which ultimately led to the capture of the suspect,” said Officer Cynthia Woods with the Fort Worth Police Department.
Communication Breakdown
Family members grew concerned when communication with Sanchez suddenly stopped. According to statements from relatives, there had been troubling signs before her death.
“Talia never responded back to the message. And Elijah called Venus back and said, ‘Oh, she’s calmed down now,'” a family member named Lovitt told local media.
That explanation apparently didn’t sit right with family members, who later discovered the tragic reality of the situation.
Could earlier intervention have made a difference? While authorities haven’t released details about any previous domestic incidents between the couple, advocates point to communication breakdowns as common warning signs in domestic violence cases.
Perez is currently being held on a $500,000 bond. A search of Tarrant County jail records doesn’t show his transfer to local custody yet, suggesting he may still be detained in El Paso awaiting transport.
Cross-State Manhunt
The case spans multiple jurisdictions across Texas and New Mexico, with law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts that ultimately led to Perez’s capture in El Paso, hundreds of miles from the crime scene.
Authorities haven’t released details about how Perez traveled from Fort Worth to El Paso with the infant, or who was responsible for delivering the child to relatives in New Mexico.
The Midland County Sheriff’s Office, which maintains a database of current detainees, was among the agencies alerted during the search for Perez, though it’s unclear if he passed through that jurisdiction.
Court records don’t indicate whether Perez has obtained legal representation or entered a plea to the murder charge.
For now, family members are focused on caring for baby Levi, who has been returned to relatives after the harrowing ordeal that claimed his mother’s life and put his father behind bars.
