An Alabama woman has been arrested for allegedly shooting and dismembering her partner with a chainsaw in the presence of their four-year-old son.
Joselina Elizabeth Lopez, 26, has been charged with the intentional murder of Benito Morales Guzman, 41, after authorities found his “dismembered and decapitated” body at a home in Slocomb on Aug. 27.
The search for Guzman began when his boss reported him missing last week, prompting authorities to visit the home he shared with Lopez.
Upon arrival, officers noticed a “strong odor of decomposition” which they discovered was coming from a Toyota Corolla filled with garbage bags that was located nearby.
Joselina Elizabeth Lopez, 26, has been charged with the intentional murder of Benito Morales Guzman, 41, after authorities found his “dismembered and decapitated” body at a home in Slocomb on Aug. 27.
When police began searching, they found “a body believed to be that of Benita Morales Guzman, mutilated into multiple pieces,” according to AL.com.
Detectives also soon discovered that the defendant recently purchased four electric chainsaws from Lowe’s and returned one.
“The chainsaw found in the vehicle still had human flesh on it,” arrest records read.
A firearm was found in the house, from which five of the six cartridges of the revolver were fired. Two bullets were extracted from Guzmán’s body.
So far, SBI investigators believe the defendant shot Guzman five times, dismembered his body into nearly 15 pieces using a chainsaw and then stuffed it into garbage bags to place in the trunk and backseat of the car.
SBI investigators believe the defendant shot Guzman five times, dismembered his body into 10 to 15 pieces using a chainsaw, and then stuffed it into garbage bags to place in the trunk and backseat of the car.
The defendant is currently being held in the Geneva County Jail, where she reportedly told a family member that “I should have left sooner” during a phone conversation.
Prosecutors and investigators suspect her autistic son was present during the alleged murder.
Investigators also believe the defendant was planning to flee to Mexico, as they discovered a car seat, a bag of diapers, the child’s birth certificate and Lopez’s passport in another car.
“In addition, blood was found in the box of baby formula in the diaper bag,” court records said.
The defendant is currently being held in the Geneva County Jail, where she reportedly told a family member during a phone conversation that “I should have left sooner.”
During a bond hearing, she told the judge she was acting in self-defense after she and her family were “threatened after Guzman allegedly owed someone money for drugs,” according to WDHN.
Lopez also told the court that the victim was trying to isolate her from her family.
Investigators also believe the defendant was allegedly planning to flee to Mexico, once they discovered a car seat, a full diaper bag, the child’s birth certificate and Lopez’s passport in another car.
Jennifer Wilkerson, Guzman’s ex-wife, said Lopez’s claim was “unbelievable” and that he would never try to distance her from her family.
“I knew he was going to say something like that. It’s just unreal. It’s like he doesn’t care at all what happened.”
Hearing all of that and what she did to him makes me sick to my stomach. He didn’t deserve any of that. I mean, she already shot him five times. What else was she planning to do here?
‘Benito would never do something like that. He wasn’t that kind of person. If something happened, he would avoid it. He wouldn’t argue with anyone.
“He deserves justice and I think I’m the one who should defend him because if anyone knows him, it’s me. I lived with him and justice should be done. He’s not here, so someone has to defend him,” she said.
Lopez has his next court hearing scheduled for September 11.