The tragedy of a Hispanic family shocked both sides of the border after Mexican authorities arrested Erick Alcántar Almanza, 44, accused of murdering his partner, Aracely Romero Acevedo, 45, in Long Beach, California, and fleeing to Mexico with her body inside the vehicle.
The crime occurred on November 8, 2025, when, according to investigations, the couple argued while she was driving him to work. According to the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office, Erick Alcántar strangled Aracely Romero inside the car and then set off on a journey of more than 135 miles (about 218 kilometers) to the city of Tijuana, where he was arrested hours later.
The confession that led to his capture
Before being arrested, the suspect confessed the crime to his eldest son during a phone call.
Alarmed, the young man contacted his father’s family, and it was the assailant’s mother who finally alerted the Mexican authorities.
Elements of the Tijuana Municipal Police and the Baja California District Attorney’s Office located the vehicle in the district of El Centenario, around 8:30 p.m.
Aracely Romero’s lifeless body was found in the passenger seat, with clear signs of asphyxiation by strangulation, according to the coroner’s preliminary report.
When arrested, Erick Alcántar Almanza did not resist and was taken into custody.
Mexican authorities informed that his extradition to the United States is already being coordinated with the support of the FBI and the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
No history, but signs of mental breakdown
Erick Alcántar Almanza, who had been living as an undocumented immigrant in California for more than two decades, had no prior criminal record.
However, according to family testimonies, the man had faced episodes of emotional instability and mental health problems in recent years.
LBPD reported that the couple, parents of five children between the ages of 16 and 26, had no history of domestic violence allegations, although close associates said the relationship had been marked by recent tensions stemming from financial problems.
The victim and the impact on the community
Aracely Romero Acevedo, known as “Chely” to her friends and family, was originally from Tijuana and worked in medical billing and taxes in Long Beach.
Her loved ones described her as a generous and cheerful woman, dedicated to her family and children.
After learning of the tragedy, the Latino community in Southern California launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and provide financial support for the couple’s five children.
“Chely was the light of our family: she loved without limits, gave without asking for anything in return and always found a way to make others smile,” wrote Tanya Gutierrez, the victim’s cousin, in the campaign description.
Extradition and judicial process
The Baja California District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Erick Alcántar Almanza is facing a formal extradition request for first-degree murder, a crime that in the state of California can carry a life sentence without parole.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Mexican diplomatic corps are working together to repatriate Romero’s body to Tijuana, where her family plans to bury her.
The case has reignited the debate about intimate partner violence in immigrant communities, a problem that, according to U.S. Department of Justice data, disproportionately affects Latina women living in the country.
Community organizations in Los Angeles and Long Beach have reiterated their call to strengthen mental health and domestic violence prevention programs, especially among vulnerable Hispanic families.
