A house cleaner in Whitestown, Indiana, died after being shot when she went to the wrong house.
Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez, 32, was going to a home with her husband to clean it. When she tried to open the door with a key, someone inside shot her in the head, according to her brother, Rudy Rios.
Rios said his sister fell into her husband’s arms after being shot. He described the situation as unfair, saying she was just trying to earn money for her family. He acknowledged she made a mistake by going to the wrong house, but didn’t believe that justified taking her life.
He also mentioned that Maria wasn’t a threat and only had keys in her hand. She was a mother to four children, ages 1 to 17.
An autopsy confirmed that Maria died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide. However, the coroner, Justin Sparks, clarified that this doesn’t automatically mean the shooter will face criminal charges. He explained that “homicide” in this context means the death was caused by someone else, but it doesn’t necessarily imply criminal intent.
Police are still investigating the incident to understand what happened and determine if any charges will be filed.
The Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department (WMPD) stated that the evidence so far doesn’t suggest Maria entered the home. They confirmed she died at the scene, and her husband was on the porch when she tried to use the key. They added that officers tried to save her, but she was already dead when they arrived.
