A couple from Missouri, Nixon Giovanni Perez, 43, and Glendy Marisol Gonzalez, 25, were discovered murdered in Guatemala shortly after their deportation from the United States. Authorities found their bodies gagged and bound in a sugarcane field near Retalhuleu, with their one-year-old daughter found alive but dehydrated at the scene.
Perez had previously fled violence and poverty in Guatemala before being deported last year. Gonzalez reportedly 'self-deported' in June to join him. The couple had been living in Overland, Missouri, with their three daughters. Following their deaths, their orphaned daughters have been placed in the care of extended family members.
Guatemalan police found the couple's bodies after they were reported missing. Perez appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, and Gonzalez sustained a head wound. Shell casings and a child's shoe were found near the bodies, along with a motorbike that was seized. No motive has been established, and it is unclear if the killings are connected to their recent return to Guatemala.
The Missouri Workers Center, a group with which Gonzalez was involved in an immigrants' rights organizing committee, held a vigil for the couple. The organization stated that Gonzalez had made the decision to return to Guatemala in June to protect her daughters and family, despite having an asylum court date set for 2027.
A fundraiser has been established to support the orphaned children, including medical care for their 11-year-old daughter Marisol, who suffers from stress-induced epilepsy, and for the youngest daughter, Giovanni. The funds aim to cover daily living expenses, education, and provide stability for the children.
Deportations to Guatemala have seen a significant increase, with over 31,000 individuals deported in the first six months of 2026, a 47 percent rise compared to the same period last year. The majority of these deportations originated from the U.S. In response to a recent spike in murders attributed to organized crime, Guatemala's government announced plans to enhance security measures.