On November 14, 2016, Maria Claudia Corales Cobral, aged 34, was tragically found dead in her home in Avenal, California. The incident occurred early in the morning, just before 6 a.m., when police responded to a call and discovered the bodies of Maria and her boyfriend, Ignacio "Nacho" Contreras. Both victims had been shot at close range. Ignacio was found on the front porch, while Maria was discovered inside the living room. The couple had recently moved in together and were looking forward to a new phase of life.
The investigation revealed that the couple's deaths were witnessed by Maria's 7-year-old son, who was present in the home at the time of the murders. The boy not only witnessed the horrific event but also attempted to intervene. He provided crucial information to the authorities, identifying the alleged killer as his own father, Frank "Francisco" Contreras. Francisco Contreras, who was 43 years old at the time, was last seen in Los Angeles, California, and has since been on the run. He is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos of "Francisco" and "Manuel" and tribal barbed wire on his right arm.
The Avenal Police Department, along with the Kings County District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Police Department, have been actively searching for Francisco Contreras. Despite extensive efforts, including checking addresses and contacting family members, Contreras remains at large. He is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities have urged the public to report any sightings of him. He is believed to have ties to Los Angeles, the Sun Valley area of Southern California, and Michoacán, Mexico. Contreras may be driving a burgundy PT Cruiser or a charcoal beige Ford F150 pickup truck.
The double homicide has left the community of Avenal in shock and mourning. Friends and family of the victims remember Maria and Ignacio as a happy, smiling couple who were planning to get married. The primary concern now is for Maria's young son, who witnessed the traumatic event and lost both his mother and a father figure in Ignacio. The search for justice continues as authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to apprehend Francisco Contreras and bring closure to the grieving family.
