VOLUNTEERS SEARCH WOODED AREAS AND CREEKS FOR MISSING TEXAS MOTHER AS HER THREE CHILDREN WAIT FOR ANSWERS

A 42-year-old mother vanished after meeting her estranged husband. Weeks later, the discovery of her wallet gave search teams a new lead — but her family is still waiting for the one answer they desperately need.

The search for Marjulin Daiuru Briceño Arrieta, a 42-year-old mother of three from Denton, Texas, continues as volunteers comb wooded areas, creek beds and difficult terrain in hopes of finding her.

Marjulin was last seen on September 28, 2026, after meeting with her estranged husband, Richard Pastor Perez, at his apartment in Denton. Her family reported her missing after they were unable to reach either of them.

More than a month later, her whereabouts remain unknown. Investigators believe she was killed, but her body has not been recovered.

A wallet discovery gives searchers a new lead

One of the most significant developments came on October 18, when volunteers searching near Decatur discovered a wallet belonging to Marjulin along a rural road.

The discovery came nearly three weeks after she disappeared.

The search was organized with the help of private investigator Alfonso Solis, who said the recovered belongings could help investigators narrow down the area where they should concentrate their efforts.

The findings were turned over to law enforcement.

In a more recent search, approximately 20 volunteers returned to the area along Highway 380, near the Wise County line. They focused on wooded locations and nearby creeks, following a route investigators and searchers believe may be relevant to the case.

Solis estimated that the search area had been reduced to approximately 15 miles — a substantial difference from the much larger area initially considered.

For the volunteers, every new clue represents another opportunity to bring Marjulin home.

Her estranged husband is wanted for murder

The Denton Police Department announced on October 13 that detectives had obtained a murder arrest warrant for 49-year-old Richard Pastor Perez.

According to police, Marjulin met Perez at his apartment around 6:45 p.m. on September 28.

Afterward, her family could no longer reach her. Investigators later found her vehicle abandoned near Perez’s apartment and discovered that the license plates on the two vehicles had been switched.

Police used license plate recognition cameras to trace Perez’s white 2013 Ford Escape through parts of Texas and into New Mexico.

Authorities said Albuquerque police later located the vehicle at a hotel. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a man matching Perez’s description abandoning it before leaving the area.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, Denton detectives believe Perez killed Marjulin.

He remains wanted, and Denton police and the FBI are asking the public for information about his whereabouts. Authorities have not publicly located Marjulin’s body.

Three children are facing an unimaginable reality

Beyond the investigation, the disappearance has left three children struggling with the loss of their mother and the uncertainty surrounding what happened to her.

A family advocate, Denisse Carrera, has spoken about the emotional toll on the children.

Marjulin’s 18-year-old daughter is now trying to take responsibility for caring for her nine-year-old brother while the family waits for answers.

Carrera shared the heartbreaking words the teenager expressed: she had once hoped to go to college and build a future for herself, but now feels she must take on the role of a parent for her younger brother.

The family has also been relying on support from members of the community as they navigate an incredibly difficult period.

For the children, finding their mother is about more than solving a mystery. It is about knowing what happened, being able to say goodbye and finding some sense of closure.

Police and the FBI continue the search

Denton police and FBI Dallas remain involved in the investigation and the effort to locate Perez.

Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Anyone with information about Perez’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Denton County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-TIPS (8477).

For now, volunteers continue searching the wooded areas and waterways, hoping that another discovery will finally lead them to Marjulin.

Her three children are still waiting.

They want their mother home. They want answers. And until she is found, the search for Marjulin Briceño Arrieta continues.