Authorities said a 24-year-old California nurse was discovered dead by her mother in the home of her ex-boyfriend, who was out on bail on domestic violence charges.
Mirelle Mateus’ mother told ABC 7 that she sensed something was wrong on March 17 and went to her daughter’s ex-boyfriend’s apartment in Anaheim, where she made a horrifying discovery after opening the unlocked front door.
“That is when I found my daughter dead in the bathroom,” Alice Mateus told the outlet. “It was I who found her dead in the bathroom. It was not the police. The system failed me.”
According to KTLA, the ex-boyfriend, Aaron Romo, 36, had a history of abuse and the family had filed for a restraining order late last year.
At about 2:30 p.m., Anaheim police said they “received reports of suspicious circumstances” at the apartment on South Union Street where Mirelle’s body was discovered.
Romo was identified as a suspect and arrested later that day in Riverside County on a murder charge, according to police.
“Detectives confirmed Romo and Mateus were previously in a romantic relationship,” police said. “Detectives believe Romo has assaulted other women in the past and are asking for anyone with previous contact with Romo to come forward.”
Citing the ongoing investigation, police have not released additional information, including the cause of death and a possible motive.
“My Mirelle didn’t deserve that death that man gave her,” her mother told ABC 7. “She didn’t deserve it, and if there’s women that know this man, please say something. Don’t be afraid.”
She added: “Please don’t stay silent. Report any incident of domestic violence so that what happened to my daughter doesn’t happen to them.”
Authorities did not say when Romo and Mateus dated or for how long.
Romo “claimed to be suicidal, and I think that’s what my sister’s fear was,” her sister Sandy Caceros told KTLA.
She added: “You know, that’s one thing she did mention to me, that her fear was for him to take his own life because she wouldn’t have been able to live with that.”
Romo has a history of domestic violence, including an incident on December 5 with his ex-wife. According to KTLA, the case was pending while he was out on bond.
According to USA Today, he faced two felony counts of corporal injury on a spouse and false imprisonment, as well as misdemeanour counts of resisting arrest and battery in that case.
Romo had entered a not guilty plea.
In another case, a woman from Romo’s previous relationship filed a 50-page restraining order in September, citing multiple instances of abuse.
Romo allegedly raped her and her friend in April, beat her up in May after breaking down her hotel room door in Las Vegas, and assaulted her in August 2021, according to the news outlet.
“Aaron’s abuse towards me is escalating,” the woman reportedly wrote. “Aaron has threatened to kill me … and my family. His anger and violence are intensifying, and I fear that he may follow through on his threats.”
Mirelle’s sister has launched a GoFundMe account, where she wrote that the family has “lost one of our most sacred precious beings in our life that God blessed us with.
“Mirelle Nicolle Mateus was a 24 year old student, hard worker, loving daughter, amazing sister, the best aunt to her niece & nephews, great friend, over all a very special caring generous person with a heart so pure & full of love,” she wrote.
Mirelle also was described by her sister as a caring nurse who dreamed of traveling.
“As angry as I am and as hurt as I am, I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring justice to her because it’s what she deserves,” Caceros told KTLA. “We got to put this man in there for the rest of his life and not be able to come out ever again and hurt anybody.”
Her devastated mom told ABC 7: “She came to illuminate our lives. Ever since she was born, that light in her eyes, the angel that God gifted to me in that moment, changed our lives forever.
“My little girl was a miracle in my life,” Alice added.
