Lancaster, CA – Sheylla Cabrera, 33, was found dead in the Angeles National Forest after authorities determined she had been murdered, and her husband, 36-year-old Jossimar Cabrera, fled the United States with their three young children, ages 9, 6, and 4.
Surveillance Footage Leads Investigators to Crime Scene
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, surveillance footage from the 500 block of Lancaster Boulevard captured a man dragging a large object wrapped in material from the apartment complex where the Cabrera family lived. Investigators identified the man in the video as Jossimar Cabrera, who subsequently disappeared along with the children.
Local Fox affiliate KTTV reported that the doorbell video clearly showed a heavy object being dragged between buildings, prompting authorities to suspect foul play.
Search and Discovery of Sheylla Cabrera’s Body
Search and rescue teams were dispatched to the Angeles National Forest on August 13. Three days later, one team reported spotting an object resembling the one in the surveillance footage. Investigators confirmed the material contained the body of Sheylla Cabrera, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
Husband Fled to Peru; Children Safe
The sheriff’s department reported that Jossimar Cabrera fled to Peru following the murder, while the three children were found safe and placed in protective custody with their grandmother in Peru. Authorities in Peru coordinated with Los Angeles County investigators.
Cabrera was reportedly detained in Peru but released due to limitations on holding him without US charges.
Domestic Violence History and Investigation
Sheylla Cabrera’s mother stated that her daughter had previously reported domestic violence in Peru and planned to file a report in California before her death. Jossimar Cabrera gave multiple conflicting accounts of her disappearance, including claims of ICE involvement, that she went off with another man, and that she had an accident.
Next Steps in the Case
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case to consider murder charges against Jossimar Cabrera and to secure his return to the United States for prosecution. Authorities continue to investigate and coordinate internationally to bring him to justice.
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