Woman's body found in trunk of missing Montebello family's car; father, 4 kids remain missing

MONTEBELLO, Calif. -- A woman's body was found Wednesday in the trunk of a car belonging to a family of six missing from Montebello.

Montebello police Capt. Luis Lopez said the Honda Accord belonging to Daniel Perez, 43, and his wife Erica, 39, and their four young sons was found near the Beverly Hospital at about 5 p.m.

Lopez says a woman's body was in the trunk, but said the body has not yet been identified. Lopez also would not give her cause of death. He says Daniel Perez is now considered a person of interest. The vehicle has since been towed away from the scene.

Lopez says an AMBER Alert is now being issued for a 2014 black four-door Toyota Camry with California license number 7FDS891.

According to police, the couple's sons Jordan, 11, Alex, 6, Jaiden, 9, and Tristan, 8, have not been to school this week, and Daniel has not showed up for work.

According to relatives, the boys were last seen Saturday night when Daniel picked them up from a family member's home. Erica was not with him at the time.

Family members say the couple's marriage is unstable and they have a history of domestic violence. Montebello police described the family's disappearance as suspicious.

Investigators have been trying to track the family through telephone and credit card use. By 6 p.m., investigators said they detected a ping on one of the phones, but they would not say if that indicated someone was using the device, or if they simply turned it on.

Relatives said Daniel seemed despondent, and they're pleading for him to return his children. One family member said she felt the children were safe with Daniel.

"I know he wouldn't hurt his children, he loves his children. His children mean everything to him. We're just worried," she said.

Daniel is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

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