Boyfriend of 18-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Truck Bed Arrested

Authorities with the Knoxville Police Department are investigating the death of Suceli Perez

<p>Knoxville Police Department</p>
<p> Juan Carlos Diaz Perez” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/qIa4Q64GZOfYHpuPWvWbqA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/471bc5f3115f032827cb2bfca8022344″><noscript><img alt= — Knoxville Police Department

Juan Carlos Diaz Perez

The man suspected of murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend has been arrested in Tennessee.

On Wednesday, July 24, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) announced the arrest of 20-year-old Juan Carlos Diaz Perez via a press release. Diaz Perez was previously wanted in connection to the death of his girlfriend Suceli Perez, WSAZ reported, and warrants were issued on Monday, July 22 charging him with first-degree murder.

<p>Getty</p>
<p> police siren — stock image” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FJSaH9xZGoV5l2ueiH9uvw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/f1c1bb6931fb2492d8e240a72f1b7165″><noscript><img alt= — Getty

police siren — stock image

“He was located and arrested near the Oak Ridge Quarry by the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Fugitive Task Force,” the KPD said, adding that he is being transported back to Knoxville.

The organization thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, Oak Ridge Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Office and the 7th Judicial Drug Task Force for their assistance.

On Monday, July 22, detectives arrived at a home in the 1200 block of Mercer Street to investigate a suspected homicide after receiving reports that “a man had gravely injured his girlfriend.”

“Homicide Unit detectives and Forensics personnel responded to the home, where they located evidence of a potentially deadly assault,” the press release said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

However, neither the suspect nor the victim, later identified as Perez, were at the residence when authorities arrived.

In a Tuesday, July 23, update, KPD said Perez’s body “was found in the bed of Diaz Perez’s truck that was recovered in Oak Ridge.”

<p>Getty</p>
<p> bed of trunk — stock image” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/srpRSKNjxMUANcWkJLDmHg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/7c7cd1936dc50b9732ad8a42d283c9b2″><noscript><img alt= — Getty

bed of trunk — stock image

At the time, anyone who may have come in contact with the 20-year-old was advised not to approach him, but to instead dial 911.

Later on Tuesday, the department said Perez’s death was believed to have been caused by blunt force trauma, pending the Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel