HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Police officers described a recent fatal domestic violence incident in Hallandale Beach as “horrific.” Relatives identified the victim as Delfina “Lily” Perez, a mother of two who was approximately 20 weeks pregnant. He was 41 years old.

Police said Perez dropped off her two children, ages 8 and 9, at a day care center in Hallandale Beach, where she was known to be punctual. Police said it was 9 p.m. when officers responded to the day care after she did not come to pick them up.

According to Hallandale Beach Police Department spokeswoman Grace Mariot, a relative picked up the children from day care and later reported that cars belonging to Perez and the children’s father, Victor Chavez, were parked outside the home. someone opened the door.

“Family members provided officers with information about their parents’ history of domestic disputes, concerns for the father’s mental health, and prior threats,” Mariot wrote.

When Hallandale Beach police officers rushed to the home near Southwest Seventh Avenue and Seventh Court, they found Chavez, 38, “lethargic and unresponsive” in the bedroom and Perez “seriously injured” in the bathroom, police said. Neighbor Anne Foss was shaken Sunday.

“I heard many loud voices; “It’s like someone is banging on the door with something,” Foss said. “’BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!’ There must be six or eight.”

Police said attempts were made to revive Perez, but fire personnel pronounced him dead and took Chavez, also known as Victor Ricardo Chavez Sanchez, to the hospital. Police said the man confessed to the murder and attempted suicide, and officers arrested him on Saturday.

Kathy Morales, a neighbor of the couple, said Perez once told her Chavez was struggling with jealousy, but she sensed there was more going on.

“He had the face of a mad man,” Morales said in Spanish. “It was obvious that he was not a normal person.”

Broward County records show Broward Sheriff’s Office corrections officers held Chavez at Fort Lauderdale’s main jail on Saturday. He appeared in county bond court Sunday — he was facing two counts of second-degree murder — and needed a Spanish-English interpreter. The judge ordered a mental health screening.

Police said Child Protective Investigation Services is investigating the circumstances of the two children who were with relatives. Perez’s younger sister, Cosme Abel De Leon Mazariegos, set up a GoFundMe to help return Perez’s body to his native Guatemala.

“I now have to raise her two beautiful children along with mine,” De Leon wrote. “Their lives will not be easy. “They are the real victims of this tragedy.”

For assistance with domestic violence, call 1-800-799-7233, 305-743-4440 or 954-761-1133 or visit this page.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

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