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Missouri woman self-deported to reunite with husband, both shot dead in Guatemala weeks later

Jul 26, 2026 · Overland, MO, Guatemala

Missouri woman self-deported to reunite with husband, both shot dead in Guatemala weeks later

Nixon Giovanni Pérez Paz, 43, and his wife Glendy Marisol González de la Cruz, 25, were found bound and shot dead in a sugarcane field in Guatemala weeks after González de la Cruz self-deported to rejoin her husband. Pérez Paz was arrested by ICE agents in an unmarked vehicle near his home in Overland, Missouri in March 2025 while driving to work with his brother; he and his brother were undocumented immigrants who had fled violence and poverty from Central America. González de la Cruz had an active asylum case but worked two manual labor jobs while raising their three young daughters, including a newborn born in June 2025. Fearing detention and separation from her children, she chose to self-deport to be with Pérez Paz in Guatemala. Their 14-month-old daughter was found crying beside her mother's body and showed signs of dehydration; she was taken to a medical center and is recovering. Her brother-in-law is now caring for the three orphaned children.

Timeline

Jul 2026Pérez Paz and González de la Cruz were found bound and shot dead in a sugarcane field in Guatemala weeks after her arrival; their 14-month-old daughter was found beside her mother's body showing signs of dehydration and was taken to a medical center
Jul 2025González de la Cruz self-deported to Guatemala to reunite with her husband, fearing detention and separation from her children despite her active asylum case
Jun 2025Glendy Marisol González de la Cruz gave birth to her third child while remaining in Overland working two manual labor jobs and raising her daughters
Mar 2025ICE agents arrested Nixon Giovanni Pérez Paz in unmarked vehicle near his home in Overland, Missouri while driving to work with his brother; both were undocumented immigrants who had fled violence and poverty from Central America

Sources

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