Teen charged with murder after missing Texas girl found dead under sink
SOUTH HOUSTON, Texas -- Police have not yet confirmed the identity of a young female body found at an abandoned apartment complex in South Houston, Texas.
However, search and rescue organization Texas EquuSearch's Tim Miller says the body found Monday night is 15-year-old Karen Perez.
A male juvenile suspect is in custody following the discovery of the body. The 15-year-old has been charged with murder.
Surveillance video shows Perez on the day she went missing.
Video from a nearby taqueria shows Karen walking into the store followed by two young men. Witnesses say one of those young men is a friend of Karen's the other her ex-boyfriend.
After Perez leaves the store she was not heard from again.
The young girl's aunt spoke with us about that complex, she and many others want it torn down.
Maria Perez, said, "Everybody knows that when they skip (school), they come here to this property, and it's so dangerous and I can't believe nobody has (done anything about it)."
Police would not say much about the suspect.
The body was found in the apartment complex in the 1600 block of Avenue N at 12th Street. Miller says he found the body himself.
Karen Perez went missing after leaving South Houston High School with her ex-boyfriend, the school is across the street from the the abandoned complex.
Late Monday night volunteers from Texas EquuSearch discovered the body during the search for Karen Perez, who went missing Friday after she allegedly left nearby South Houston High School with her ex-boyfriend.
Perez's friends say the missing 15-year-old was a good person.
Mckayla Zbranek, Karen Perez's friend, said, "I had a couple of classes with her, she was a real sweet girl. She was really outgoing and she was always happy."
Those who live near the abandoned apartment complex where the body was discovered say the complex needs to be torn down.
Resident Jose Carbajol said, "If it was my daughter, I would be pushing to get these ripped down. Look at that, it's by the high school. It's very sad that this happened so close."
South Houston Police say they will know much more about the missing person case once the body is identified by the medical examiner.
Pasadena ISD Statement Concerning Death of South Houston High School Student:
"The South Houston High School Family and district administrators learned this morning that one of the ninth grade students, Karen Perez, has been found dead after being reported missing. Our deepest sympathy goes to Karen's family. The student leaves behind a host of friends who will miss her greatly. As the South Houston High School family mourns the loss of this student, the campus and Pasadena ISD are doing everything we can to provide comfort and assistance to the family and to our students in this time of grief. The District has counselors available on the campus to address concerns from students. Pasadena ISD Police have been assisting the South Houston Police Department who is conducting the investigation and Texas EquuSearch in an effort to locate the missing teen."
