Executive Summary
- Police investigated a homicide after a body was found in Murrieta, California, on January 13.
- Ignacia Perkins, identified as the victim’s ex-girlfriend, was arrested in California and charged with murder.
- James Lawrence Petri was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, on identical charges, including conspiracy.
- Authorities allege the murder was committed for financial or other consideration.
Two individuals, including the victim’s former partner, have been taken into custody following a coordinated homicide investigation spanning California and Alabama. Authorities announced the arrests in connection with a man found dead inside a Murrieta apartment last month.
According to the Murrieta Police Department, officers responded to a call at the Arbors at California Oaks apartments on the morning of January 13. Upon arrival, they discovered a deceased male, and investigators subsequently ruled the death a homicide.
Detectives identified 40-year-old Ignacia Perkins as the victim’s ex-girlfriend. Police arrested Perkins in Murrieta on January 29 and booked her into the Robert Presley Detention Center. Authorities stated she has been charged with murder, murder for financial or other consideration, and criminal conspiracy to commit murder.
In a simultaneous operation on the same day, the Birmingham Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team, working alongside Murrieta detectives, located and arrested 43-year-old James Lawrence Petri in Birmingham’s Bush Hills neighborhood. Police confirmed that Petri faces the same charges as Perkins. He is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail.
Investigative Outlook
The arrests in Alabama and California mark a significant development in this case, particularly given the charges alleging financial motivation and criminal conspiracy. James Lawrence Petri remains in custody pending extradition proceedings to transfer him to California jurisdiction. As the investigation remains active, officials have not disclosed specific details regarding the financial considerations cited in the charges. It is important to note that all individuals arrested and charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
