Erick Alcantar Almanza Accused of Killing the Mother of His Children and Smuggling Her Body into Mexico to Dump It

The shocking murder of 46-year-old Aracely Romero Acevedo has left both her family and two nations reeling. Authorities in Mexico and the United States are investigating after her body was found in the passenger seat of a car in La Paz, Baja California Sur, allegedly smuggled across the border by her longtime partner, identified as Erick Alcantar Almanza. The killing has drawn attention not only for its brutality but also for the cross-border complications it presents, as investigators now work to unravel a crime that began in California and ended in Mexico.

Romero, a devoted mother of five and respected professional in medical billing and tax preparation, was known to family and friends as “Chely.” Her death has devastated those closest to her, especially her eldest son, 26-year-old Erik Almanza, who says his father called to confess the murder shortly after it occurred. The tragedy has ignited discussions about domestic violence, immigration status, and cross-border law enforcement cooperation, as two governments now collaborate to ensure justice for the beloved mother and professional.

The Cross-Border Crime That Shocked Two Nations

Authorities say the killing likely took place in Long Beach, California, where both Romero and Almanza had lived for years. Investigators believe that following the attack, Almanza placed Romero’s body in the passenger seat of her vehicle and drove across the U.S.-Mexico border through Tijuana before continuing south into La Paz, nearly 1,000 miles away. When Mexican authorities discovered the car on Saturday night in the El Centenario district of La Paz, Romero’s lifeless body showed visible signs of violence and what appeared to be strangulation.

Prosecutors in Baja California identified the suspect only as “Erik N.,” in accordance with Mexican privacy laws, but U.S. outlets later confirmed him as Erick Alcantar Almanza, an undocumented immigrant who had been living in the United States for over two decades. According to Mexican officials, Almanza was detained at the scene and has remained in custody as prosecutors work with authorities from the FBI, Long Beach Police Department, and Los Angeles Police Department to piece together the timeline and determine jurisdiction over the case.

In a statement, the Baja California Attorney General’s Office explained that although the murder occurred on U.S. soil, Mexican authorities were required to intervene because the suspect and victim crossed the border before the crime was reported. “Although the crime was committed in the United States, the State Attorney General’s Office will continue with the corresponding legal actions, as the man has an open investigation file in Tijuana,” prosecutors said. This collaboration highlights the growing coordination between American and Mexican law enforcement in addressing crimes that straddle the border, a region long plagued by jurisdictional complexities.

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The journey from Long Beach to La Paz—over 900 miles—suggests a premeditated attempt by the suspect to hide the body far from where the killing took place. Investigators are now analyzing border crossing data, surveillance footage, and GPS evidence to determine when and how the vehicle entered Mexico. According to Romero’s son, his father made a chilling phone call on Saturday evening, confessing to the crime and admitting his intention to conceal the body before turning himself in.

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“He told me he had killed my mom,” Erik Almanza told ABC7. “He said he planned to hide her body and then surrender to police.” The younger Almanza’s calm but grief-stricken account of the conversation has deeply affected the public, especially as he confirmed that his parents had argued earlier that day, hours before his mother’s death.

A Mother’s Life Remembered: “She Was the Heart of Her Home”

To those who knew her, Aracely Romero Acevedo was a warm, hardworking woman who dedicated her life to her family. Born and raised in Tijuana, she moved to the United States to pursue a better future, completing trade school and building a career in medical billing and tax preparation. Her colleagues remember her as dependable and compassionate—a person who balanced professional success with her responsibilities as a mother of five.

Her family described her as the emotional foundation of their household. On a GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral costs and repatriate her body, loved ones wrote, “She was a mother, a sister, a friend, and the heart of her home.” They added that she had devoted her entire life to her children and the wellbeing of her extended family. “They were her entire world. Everything she did, every sacrifice she made, was for them.”

Her son Erik, now grappling with the dual tragedy of losing his mother and seeing his father accused of her murder, described her as a selfless figure who was always ready to help others. “She kept everyone together,” he said, emphasizing that she had been supporting several generations of family members both emotionally and financially.

Those close to the family say Romero and Almanza’s relationship had been marked by growing tension in recent years, though few imagined it could end so violently. According to relatives, the couple’s argument on the day of her death appeared to be one of many domestic disputes that had escalated over time. While authorities have not yet disclosed a specific motive, they suspect the killing stemmed from a volatile domestic situation.

Romero’s death has reignited broader conversations about domestic violence within immigrant communities, where cultural, linguistic, and legal barriers often prevent victims from seeking help. Advocates have noted that undocumented or mixed-status families can face particular challenges when reporting abuse, fearing deportation or the loss of financial stability. Her case, they argue, underscores the urgent need for cross-border systems to protect victims and prosecute offenders regardless of nationality or residence status.

“She was a person who wanted the best for her children and worked tirelessly to give them that,” a family friend told local media. “To have her life taken in such a cruel way, by someone she trusted, is something none of us can understand.”

Legal Complexities and International Cooperation in the Aftermath

The investigation into Romero’s killing now involves multiple law enforcement agencies spanning two countries. In California, Long Beach police and the FBI are gathering forensic evidence and witness statements to reconstruct the events leading up to the crime. Meanwhile, Mexican prosecutors are handling the immediate custody and interrogation of the suspect. The key legal question revolves around jurisdiction—whether Almanza will face charges in Mexico, where he was detained, or be extradited to the United States to stand trial for a crime allegedly committed there.

Under international law, extradition between the United States and Mexico depends on where the primary elements of the crime occurred. If evidence confirms that the killing happened in Long Beach, American authorities may request Almanza’s extradition. However, Mexican law allows for the prosecution of certain crimes if the suspect or victim is Mexican or if the crime’s consequences extend into Mexican territory. Because both Romero and Almanza were originally from Tijuana, Mexican authorities could retain jurisdiction to pursue justice domestically.

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This dual involvement has placed the case under significant public scrutiny. Baja California prosecutors have stated that Almanza has an open investigation file in Tijuana, suggesting prior encounters with law enforcement. Details of that investigation remain confidential, but it could play a role in determining whether he remains in Mexico to face additional charges.

In the meantime, both nations have pledged cooperation. The FBI confirmed that it is working “closely and actively” with Mexican authorities to coordinate evidence collection and ensure that the case proceeds according to both countries’ legal frameworks. Cross-border homicide cases often involve lengthy diplomatic processes, but officials from both sides have indicated that the priority remains ensuring justice for Romero and closure for her family.

Forensic experts in Mexico have performed an autopsy, which confirmed signs of strangulation and other forms of trauma. Investigators are now analyzing traces from the vehicle to confirm where the assault occurred and whether additional individuals might have aided Almanza during his journey to La Paz. As of now, authorities believe he acted alone.

The case has sparked widespread outrage in both Mexico and California, with community leaders calling for stronger measures to prevent domestic violence and better cross-border cooperation when victims are taken or killed abroad. The public response has also drawn attention to the lack of resources for women in abusive relationships, particularly those in immigrant or bilingual households who may be isolated from support networks.

In Long Beach, friends and neighbors of Romero have organized vigils and fundraisers to support her children, who now face the loss of both parents—their mother to violence and their father to imprisonment. “Aracely’s love will live on through her children and through all of us who were blessed to know her,” her family wrote online. “She will never be forgotten—her laughter, her kindness, and her beautiful soul will stay in our hearts forever.”

As investigations continue, authorities on both sides of the border have reiterated that the case represents a complex and deeply tragic intersection of domestic violence, immigration, and international law. For Romero’s family, however, the focus remains on honoring her memory and ensuring that justice, wherever it is served, reflects the magnitude of her loss.

The story of Aracely Romero Acevedo has become a somber reminder of how violence can destroy families and transcend borders. In death, she has united two countries in pursuit of accountability, and her name now stands as a symbol of the countless women whose lives are taken by those they once trusted most.