Lucia Chilel Perez, a 40-year-old mother of three, disappeared on June 27, 2011, under suspicious circumstances. Lucia, originally from Guatemala, had moved to Worthington, Minnesota, to seek better opportunities for her family. On the day she vanished, she left with a family acquaintance, Bernardino Ramirez-Perez, to search for jobs in northwest Iowa. They were last seen in his maroon Buick Century.
Lucia reportedly visited several businesses in Iowa, including a hog facility where she saw her brother-in-law. She called her sister around 4:00 p.m. that day, stating she would return home soon. However, she never made it back, and her sister never heard from her again. Ramirez-Perez returned to Worthington later that evening, alone and with a scratch on his face. He told conflicting stories, initially claiming that Lucia had been detained by immigration officials in Hull, Iowa. This was later proven false.
Ramirez-Perez, who had a history of violent criminal behavior, including charges for domestic violence, sexual assault, and kidnapping, left town shortly after Lucia's disappearance. Despite his criminal background, there was no physical evidence to directly link him to her disappearance, although he remains a person of interest. Authorities believe foul play is likely, but Lucia has never been found, and Ramirez-Perez's whereabouts are currently unknown.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension classified Lucia as an endangered missing person, and investigators continue to seek any information that could help solve the case.Last Seen: Jun 27, 2011
