APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — A Valley man has been apprehended in California after he allegedly murdered an Apache Junction woman earlier this week.
Ulises A. Cruz Peraza is accused of fatally shooting 28-year-old Maria Guadalupe Godinez Ramirez on May 1 and then fleeing the state to Los Angeles before authorities detained him on Wednesday.
The victim had been in a relationship with Peraza and obtained an order of protection against him in December, according to the Apache Junction Police Department.
Ramirez called 911 on Sunday after she had been shot. Officers found her in a vehicle on Old West Highway near Colt Road. She died at the hospital a short time later.
Maria's brother, Esteban Godinez, told 12 News Maria was being harassed by Peraza. Godinez said Maria moved into his Apache Junction home in February to escape Peraza.
The 28-year-old's best friend, Fabiola Saenz, said the couple's relationship was good at first. Saenz said after a year, things got so bad that Maria filed two different restraining orders against him in 2021.
Maria's family said detectives told them Peraza doesn't regret what he did.
"He needs to stay in jail forever, he had no right to take my sister's life like that," said Godinez.
The family said they plan on burying Maria in Mexico where her mother lives.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses. If you would like to help, you can donate here.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Una mujer de Apache Junction fue ultimada a balazos; Exnovio fue arrestado en Los Ángeles
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