Montebello woman's body found in trunk of family's car; husband in custody, 4 kids found

MONTEBELLO, Calif. -- Daniel Perez, the father of the four missing Montebello children, has been taken into custody following a standoff on a San Diego County freeway. Perez's four sons were rescued and are with police.

The missing family was located in Santee Thursday morning after El Cajon police spotted the car that was the subject of an Amber Alert. Police began following the Toyota Camry and determined that the driver was Daniel Perez.

The Camry stopped on the SR-52 ramp to the southbound 67. Two boys exited the Camry first, and then two additional boys were seen exiting the vehicle with their father, Daniel Perez.

When Perez appeared to make a last-ditch effort to get away, officers in tactical gear quickly moved in.

PHOTOS: Amber Alert standoff ends on San Diego County freeway

On Wednesday, a woman's body was found in the trunk of a car belonging to the family. The body has not yet been positively identified, but it is presumed to be 39-year-old Erica Perez. Daniel Perez is considered a person of interest in the homicide.

Police say the couple and their four sons -- Jordan, 11, Alex, 6, Jaiden, 9, and Tristan, 8 -- were last seen Friday night when Daniel picked them up from a family member's home. Erica was not with him at the time.

The couple's marriage was unstable, according to family members, and they have a history of domestic violence.

After the discovery of the body, an Amber Alert was issued for a 2014 black four-door Toyota Camry with California license number 7FDS891.

Investigators tried to track the family through telephone and credit card use, and on Wednesday night, investigators said they detected a ping on one of the phones.

If you have any information, you're urged to contact the Montebello Police Department at (323) 887-1313.