Location: Denton, Texas
Date: Last seen Monday, September 28, 2026
Accused: Richard Pastor Perez, 49, her estranged husband (wanted, not in custody)
Charges: Arrest warrant for murder
Status: Perez is being sought; her body has not been found
Police in Denton, Texas, say they believe Marjulin Daiuru Briceño Arrieta, a 42-year-old mother of three who went missing on September 28, is no longer alive. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant charging her estranged husband, 49-year-old Richard Pastor Perez, with murder, and the Denton Police Department and the FBI are now searching for him after his vehicle was traced to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Interim Police Chief Tony Salas shared the update at a news conference on Tuesday, October 13, more than two weeks after Briceño Arrieta was last seen. Her body has not been found, and police have asked anyone with information about Perez's whereabouts to come forward.
Who Is Marjulin Briceño Arrieta?
Briceño Arrieta is a Denton mother whose three children are 21, 18 and 9 years old, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Since she disappeared, community members have stepped in with food and financial help, and NBC 5 reported that donations helped her children cover this month's rent after they lost their mother's support.
Family, friends and neighbors gathered at North Lakes Park in Denton on Monday, October 12, for a vigil to pray for her safe return. One attendee, Denisse Carrera, told Telemundo 39 that the community's focus should stay on the family, saying, "Three kids don't have a mom right now." Briceño Arrieta's daughter told the station, in Spanish, that she no longer feels the same without her mother's love and warmth.
What Happened in Denton?
According to Denton police, Briceño Arrieta went to meet Perez at his apartment in Denton at about 6:45 p.m. on Monday, September 28. NBC 5 reported that she told a family member where she was going. After that, relatives could not reach her or Perez, and they filed a missing person report, telling police they were worried because of what they described as Perez's past history of abuse toward her. NBC 5 reported that police cited a history of violence and stalking.
Officers later found Briceño Arrieta's vehicle abandoned near Perez's apartment. Perez's own white 2013 Ford Escape was gone, and investigators discovered that the license plates on the two vehicles had been swapped.
How Police Tracked the Vehicle to New Mexico
Using license plate reader cameras, detectives followed the vehicle believed to be Perez's out of North Texas. Police said it was recorded in Wichita Falls at about 9 p.m. on September 28, then in the Amarillo area early on September 29, and again west of Amarillo at about 10:44 p.m. that night.
On Wednesday, September 30, Albuquerque police received a license plate alert. Surveillance video showed a man matching Perez's description arriving at a hotel and leaving the SUV in the parking lot. Police said no one else was seen with him. Perez has not been located since.
What Police Have Said
Chief Salas said investigators believe Briceño Arrieta has died based on evidence gathered in the case. FOX 4 reported that he did not say what that evidence was, while NBC 5 reported that police said DNA evidence helped lead them to that conclusion. Investigators met with her family on Tuesday morning to share their findings before the news conference.
"It's a very, very tough situation to be in," Salas said, according to FOX 4. He also cautioned that the case is "not something that we believe is gonna be solved overnight."
In a statement reported by the Cross Timbers Gazette, the department said detectives "believe Perez killed Briceño Arrieta and have obtained an arrest warrant for murder," and that extensive efforts to find both Perez and Briceño Arrieta were ongoing.
Has Anyone Been Arrested?
No. As of Tuesday afternoon, Perez had not been found. Police describe him as about 5 feet 5 inches tall and about 150 pounds. Richard Pastor Perez is accused, not convicted, and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.
How to Help
Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to Perez's arrest. Anonymous tips can be given by calling 1-800-388-TIPS (8477) or through the Denton County Crime Stoppers website. The family has also asked anyone with information to contact the Denton Police Department.
What Happens Next
Denton police, the FBI and other agencies say they will keep searching for both Perez and Briceño Arrieta. If Perez is arrested, he would face the murder charge in Texas courts. Police have not said when or where they expect a break in the case, and Salas warned it could take time.
Timeline of the Marjulin Briceño Arrieta Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Mon., Sept. 28, 2026, about 6:45 p.m. | Briceño Arrieta meets Perez at his Denton apartment and is not heard from again; family reports her missing. |
| Mon., Sept. 28, about 9 p.m. | Cameras record the vehicle believed to be Perez's in Wichita Falls. |
| Tue., Sept. 29 | The vehicle is recorded in the Amarillo area, then west of Amarillo at about 10:44 p.m. |
| Wed., Sept. 30 | Albuquerque police get a plate alert; video shows a man matching Perez's description leaving the SUV at a hotel. |
| Mon., Oct. 12 | Community vigil at North Lakes Park in Denton. |
| Tue., Oct. 13 | Police announce a murder warrant for Perez and say they believe Briceño Arrieta is dead; $2,000 reward offered. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Marjulin Briceño Arrieta last seen?
Police say she met Richard Pastor Perez at his Denton apartment at about 6:45 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, and was not heard from again.
Has her body been found?
No. Police said they believe she is dead based on evidence collected, but her body has not been located.
Where is Richard Pastor Perez?
His whereabouts are unknown. He was last seen on surveillance video at an Albuquerque, New Mexico, hotel on September 30, where police say he left his vehicle.
Is there a reward?
Yes. Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000 for information leading to Perez's arrest. Tips can be made anonymously at 1-800-388-TIPS (8477).
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