Thomas Perales, 37, is accused of killing Annette Marie Valdez in Westminster, Colorado; her body was found in a trash can on Dec. 4. Family members say Perales was released from custody about one week before the discovery after receiving probation for an October incident. Court records and relatives describe repeated protection-order violations and at least 67 police responses to Valdez’s address over two years. Perales faces charges including first-degree murder and tampering with a body.
Repeat Offender Allegedly Killed Mother of Three Days After Jail Release, Then Moved Her Body in Shopping Cart
Colorado repeat offender freed from jail less than two weeks before allegedly killing mother of three: report
A 37-year-old Colorado man with a lengthy criminal history is accused of fatally assaulting the mother of his children and then transporting her body around the neighborhood in a shopping cart, authorities say.
Allegations and Arrest
Police say Thomas Perales is suspected of killing Annette Marie Valdez. Her body was discovered inside a trash can in Westminster on Dec. 4, according to reporting by 9NEWS. Perales was arrested the day after the discovery and has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, domestic violence and two counts of violating a protection order.
Annette Marie Valdez, a 37-year-old mother of three, went missing in Westminster, Colo. Nov. 28, 2025. She was found dead Dec. 4.
Timeline and Prior Incidents
Valdez was last seen the day after Thanksgiving when she failed to return to a family gathering. Relatives who went to her nearby apartment found the front door unlocked, her phone and shoes inside, and her keys on the ground outside, prompting them to contact police.
Investigators say Perales had been released from custody roughly one week before Valdez’s body was found. He had been arrested Oct. 24 after an incident in which Valdez reported he tried to force entry into her apartment; officers found the deadbolt damaged and surveillance devices smeared with red paint. Perales was later sentenced to 12 months of probation on Nov. 21 and released.
Thomas Perales was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, domestic violence and two counts of violation of a protection order, according to the Adams County District Attorney’s Office.
What Authorities Say Happened
According to an affidavit cited by 9NEWS, Perales told investigators he "blacked out" during an argument with Valdez, put his hand over her mouth and held her in a headlock. When he realized she was dead, prosecutors say he panicked and moved the body. Investigators allege he used a trash can behind a nearby Safeway and then spent several days transporting the blanket-wrapped body in a shopping cart around the area.
"You know I killed my wife and paraded her around?" Perales reportedly told investigators, according to local reporting.
Evidence And Family Accounts
The Adams County coroner reported injuries to Valdez’s neck consistent with trauma before death, while noting advanced decomposition limited the preliminary forensic assessment. Family members and people in the local homeless community told media they saw a man pushing a shopping cart containing what they believed to be Valdez’s body.
Thomas Perales had been released on probation after a domestic violence case two weeks before he allegedly murdered Annette Marie Valdez last month in Westminster, Colo., according to 9NEWS.
Court records show Perales has a long criminal history, including multiple domestic violence incidents and numerous violations of protection orders issued for Valdez and the couple’s children. Police records indicate officers were called to Valdez’s address 67 times over two years for incidents ranging from trespassing and unwanted parties to welfare checks and protection order violations; nine calls reportedly involved alleged domestic violence.
Status
Perales reportedly has been homeless for at least two years. Attempts to immediately locate an attorney representing him were unsuccessful, and law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Valdez’s death.
