Mendoza’s body was found at the cemetery June 15, after Aguilar gave his statement to investigators. She was also identified through dental records, Sheriff’s Office officials announced June 27.
Aside from Aguilar’s alleged confession, investigators have collected physical evidence they say links the men to the slayings — including the suspected murder weapons. AL.com reported that Rutherford testified one knife was found under Palomino’s mattress and the other was found under Aguilar’s mattress.
Despite the men’s cleanup efforts, blood was also found in Palomino’s car, the investigator said.
Both men’s cellphones also “pinged” in the area of the killings during that time frame, the news site said.
The slayings shocked the community, particularly those at Challenger Middle School, where Lopez was a student. The school’s Parent-Teacher Association last month set up a memorial account to help her family pay for her and her grandmother’s funerals.
“No one is prepared to lose a child or other relative at such young ages,” a statement from the PTA said. “With the untimely passing of two family members, one can imagine the mounting costs of funeral and burial expenses that the family faces in addition to the unparalleled grief that is felt as well.”
The “Mariah Lopez and Oralia Mendoza Memorial Account” was established at Wells Fargo, with donations set to go directly to the funeral home.
“Anything in excess of those costs will be given to the immediate family to assist with other expenses and needs,” the PTA statement said.
Lt. Donny Shaw, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman, last month credited the community with helping to quickly bring the search for Lopez’s and Mendoza’s killers to an end.
“For a murder where there were no indications, no witnesses, nothing to lean on when we began with it, the Hispanic community, the partners, the media, we’ve been able to do a phenomenal thing in just a little over seven days by coming to the arrests of two individuals,” Shaw told WAFF.
Both Aguilar and Palomino are being held without bail in the Madison County Jail. Palomino is also being detained on a hold for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
His preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.
Article Appeared @https://www.ajc.com/news/national/year-old-girl-beheaded-after-seeing-grandmother-slain-alabama-cemetery/CPVmXGnpa0XH3ppnhsdg8N/