Woman, Toddler Found In Brockton Dumpster Beaten To Death
BROCKTON (CBS) -- A woman and her young son found dead inside a bag in a dumpster in Brockton were beaten to death, according to the medical examiner.
The bodies of 25-year-old Maria Avelina Palaguachia-Cela and her nearly-three-year-old son, Brian, were found Sunday night in a dumpster behind 427 Warren Street, where the two lived.
Police found their bodies after receiving a tip to look there.
Police say Palaguachia-Cela and her son lived in the apartment with her common-law husband.
"This was not a random act," Plymouth County District Attorney, Tim Cruz, said Monday. "Neighbors should not be worried. We're focusing on one individual right now."
Cruz would not call the boyfriend a suspect, only saying that the investigation is active.
"We do not believe that this is a random act, and we do not believe this is a general threat to public safety in the community." said Cruz.
The victim was last seen Thursday, and neighbors said they saw her boyfriend driving her pickup truck over the weekend.
Neighbors said the woman had two small children. The other child lives outside of the U.S.
