California man accused of killing mother of his 5 children, then taking body to Mexico

A Long Beach man is accused by authorities of killing a Long Beach woman he was involved with during an argument and then taking her body to Mexico.

Police said the two were in a dating relationship, while a GoFundMe identified the suspect as the father of the women’s five children, ranging in age from 16 to 26.

Police say they believe a domestic dispute happened on Nov. 8 in Long Beach in a car, with Erik Alcantar, 44, then driving to Tijuana, where he turned himself into authorities that day.

Mexican authorities found the body of Aracely Romero, 45, in the car, Long Beach police said.

One of her sons told ABC7 his father called that night and allegedly admitted to killing Romero. The suspect also allegedly told his son he would hide the body and surrender to authorities, the son said.

His parents had argued as Romero was driving Alcantar to work that afternoon, the son told the station.

Four days later, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Alcantar with one count of murder, court records show.

As of Friday, police said, Alcantar remained in custody in Mexico.

“Chely was the light of our family — the one who loved without limits, gave without asking, and carried everyone’s burdens with grace and kindness,” a GoFundMe post said. “She had the purest heart, always finding ways to make people smile, always putting others before herself. To know her was to feel warmth, love, and safety. …

“Now, our nephews and niece are facing a pain no child should ever have to endure,” the post said. “They lost their mom who was their rock, and their safe place. In one moment, they lost both of their parents.”

Police asked anyone with information about the case to call homicide detectives at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.