Mother of four killed after mistakenly entering wrong home for cleaning job

Mother of four killed after mistakenly entering wrong home for cleaning job

A tragic case of mistaken identity has left an Indiana family shattered after Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, a 32-year-old mother of four, was fatally shot while attempting to enter the wrong house for a cleaning job in Whitestown, a suburb near Indianapolis.

The incident occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday as Pérez and her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, arrived at what they believed was the correct address for a scheduled cleaning. The couple, who ran a small cleaning business, had reportedly double-checked the address and circled the neighborhood before approaching the residence.

According to Velázquez, the tragedy unfolded in seconds.

“She didn’t even put the key in when I heard the shot,” he recounted tearfully. “I saw my wife step back twice, then the keys dropped, and she fell. I tried to console her and tell her everything would be OK, but I could see the blood coming out.”

Police arrived minutes later following a 911 call about a suspected home invasion. Officers found the couple on the porch, but Pérez was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Investigators have since confirmed that the couple had made an innocent mistake and were not attempting to break into the home.

“The facts gathered do not support that a residential entry occurred,” Whitestown Police said in a statement.

However, the case is legally complex due to Indiana’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which permits homeowners to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent or stop an unlawful entry or attack. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood noted that under the law, individuals have no duty to retreat when defending their property.

Pérez, who had moved to Indianapolis from Guatemala a year ago, is survived by her husband and four children — the youngest not yet a year old. Velázquez said he is now focused on seeking justice for his wife and returning her body to their hometown in Guatemala.

“For me, she was the love of my life,” Velázquez said. “She was a good wife and a good mother.”

Police say the investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made.

 

Mother of four killed after mistakenly entering wrong home for cleaning job