Chilling details released after woman and three others arrested for allegedly hiring hitman to kill ex-boyfriend

A woman from California and three others have been taken into custody after she allegedly arranged for her ex-boyfriend to be killed.

Ignacia Cadaos Perkins, 40, from Murrieta, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Aaron Parr, 30. Parr was discovered dead inside an apartment on January 13, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

When officers arrived at the scene, they determined the situation was suspicious, leading to a homicide investigation. A few weeks later, on January 29, Perkins and an associate, James Lawrence Petri, 43, were arrested in Alabama. Both were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

What was the motive for the murder?

While officials have not released full details about how Parr died, investigators believe the crime may have been driven by financial motives, according to reports. Police said they have been working through large amounts of evidence as the case develops, stating: “Since the initial arrests, Murrieta Police Detectives have continued to diligently examine a substantial volume of physical evidence, digital evidence, and investigative leads.”

Authorities added that continued efforts helped uncover more people connected to the case, saying: “Through persistent investigative efforts and coordination with partner agencies across the United States, detectives were able to identify and locate two additional accomplices involved in this homicide.”

The arrest of further suspects

Those additional suspects — Jerry Wheeler, 34, and Kenneth Maxwell, 39 — were arrested last Wednesday in Georgia and Alabama. Both men are facing charges including murder, murder for financial gain, and conspiracy, and are expected to be extradited to California for trial.

Officials have not released further information about the case, noting that the investigation is still ongoing.

Statistically, California is one of the safest states to live in the U.S., with the Democratic stronghold recording 4.7 homicide deaths per 100,000 in 2024, according to the National Center for Health Statistics in the United States.

While it boasts the largest population of all 52 states, with over 38 million people, it ranked only behind Texas for the number of deaths by homicide, with 1,738 people murdered in the Golden State in 2024 alone (the most recently available statistics in the United States).

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