A man suspected of killing his wife at their Lancaster home, dumping her body in the Angeles National Forest and then fleeing with their children to Peru is expected to be extradited back to the U.S. to face murder charges.
Jossimar Cabrera Cornejo, 36, of Lancaster was charged Thursday in the killing of his wife, Sheylla Cabrera, earlier this month.
Sheylla Cabrera, 33, was originally reported as a missing person, but the investigation took a turn after a neighbor’s doorbell security camera captured video of Jossimar Cabrera in which he was seem dragging a large object in some type of tarp or cloth. His wife’s body was discovered days later wrapped in the same fabric, authorities said.
Jossimar Cabrera had fled to his native Peru after his wife’s disappearance, and was detained both there and in Mexico, before being released due to a lack of charges in the U.S. The couple’s three children were also taken to Peru and have since been taken into protective custody.
Formally charged on Thursday in his wife’s death, on Friday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that an extradition warrant had been filed to begin the process of bringing him back stateside to stand trial.
“The allegations against this man are horrific, and we will do everything possible to bring him back under our jurisdiction to be held accountable,” Hochman said.
Jossimar Cabrera was not believed to be in law enforcement custody, but Peruvian officials were purportedly monitoring his location.
A court date will be set after he’s been apprehended and brought back to Los Angeles County, the D.A.’s Office said.
If convicted as charged, he could face a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
Sheylla Cabrera’s exact cause of death has yet to be released by investigators from the L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office, but special circumstances filed by the D.A.’s Office allege that a knife was used in her killing.
Friends and family have told KTLA that they believe Sheylla was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband for many years.
Hochman said of the allegations: “Domestic violence creates chaos in our communities and shatters families. My office is committed to bringing stability back into the lives of those who have been victimized.”
If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, help can be found by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.