Local
Denton search for Marjulin Briceño Arrieta draws community support for her three children
Police and the FBI planned an update Tuesday in the search for Marjulin Briceño Arrieta, who has been missing since Sept. 28. As the investigation continues, neighbors have helped her children with food and rent and are being urged to share information with police.
Denton police and the FBI were scheduled to provide an update Tuesday afternoon in the search for Marjulin Briceño Arrieta, a 42-year-old woman last known to have left work around 5 p.m. Sept. 28 to meet her estranged husband, police said.
A police release announcing the 2 p.m. briefing named Richard Pastor Perez, Arrieta’s estranged husband. In an earlier release, police said Arrieta’s family feared for her safety because of what they described as a history of violence and stalking by Perez. Police said attempts to reach both Arrieta and Perez were unsuccessful, with calls going directly to voicemail.
The search has also prompted neighbors to rally around Arrieta’s three children, ages 21, 18 and 9. On Monday night, community members gathered at North Lakes Park for a prayer vigil and hoped for her safe return.
“A mother is missing. Three kids don’t have a mom right now. That’s what we should be focusing on as a community,” vigil attendee Denisse Carrera said.
People have provided the family with food and financial assistance. Donations helped the children pay their rent this month after the loss of the financial support their mother had provided. One daughter said the community’s affection cannot replace her mother’s presence: “I have lots of hugs and lots of people around me, but I don’t feel the same because I don’t have my mom’s love and warmth with me.”
Alfonso Solis, founder of SendMeDFW, has joined the search effort. Solis, who has helped with missing-person searches across North Texas, said it is difficult to know where to look without information about what happened.
Solis urged anyone who bought, sold or traded a vehicle with Perez to contact Denton police. Information about a vehicle Perez may have been driving could give searchers a starting point, he said.
Arrieta’s family is also asking anyone with information about her disappearance to contact Denton police.