WESTMINSTER, CO – In a case that has rattled the Denver metro area, police say a mother of two was killed and her body transported through neighborhood streets in a shopping cart before being discarded in a public park’s trash can.
Authorities allege Thomas Perales, 38, committed the grisly act after years of troubling contact with his ex-partner, 37-year-old Annette Valdez. Police were first alerted to potential foul play on December 4, after discovering Valdez’s remains at Willowbrook Park, located in the northern suburbs of Westminster.
An investigation quickly pointed to Perales, who authorities say had a history of violating court-issued protection orders meant to keep him away from Valdez. On the day after her body was found, officers took Perales into custody. He now faces charges that include first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, habitual domestic violence, and multiple violations of protective orders.
According to detectives, Perales—who was without a permanent address at the time—was observed by witnesses pushing the mother of his children in a shopping cart for several days following her death. Eventually, he told someone he left her near a creek, which led investigators to the grisly scene inside a park garbage can. During questioning, Perales allegedly acknowledged responsibility, describing to investigators how he transported Valdez’s body.
Details surrounding the killing remain murky, with investigators yet to release the exact cause of death. However, relatives say Valdez’s fate followed a long pattern of domestic violence and failed interventions.
Adam Larson, Valdez’s brother, described years of attempting to rescue his sister from a dangerous relationship, saying she repeatedly justified her continued contact with Perales for the sake of their children. Relatives say she was in regular fear, recalling a most recent incident where Valdez watched Perales damage her apartment door and tamper with a security camera while she called family for help.
Perales’s arrest came less than two weeks after his release from jail, raising concerns among Valdez’s family that not enough was done at the systemic level to keep her safe. Family members described the protection order as symbolic at best, pointing out that Valdez’s efforts to keep Perales away were met with repeated breaches.
Friends and family are remembering Valdez as a devoted mother, beloved sister, and friend whose life was cut short by domestic violence. A fundraising campaign established in her memory highlights her warmth and kindness, and the deep void left in the lives of those who knew her.
Westminster police continue their investigation while Perales remains in custody, pending further court proceedings. The case has reignited calls for stronger protections and support systems for survivors of domestic abuse, as the community struggles to cope with a loss marked by both brutality and heartbreak.