METHUEN, MASS. (WHDH) - Police are searching for the suspect wanted in the death of a woman in Methuen.
Officials have begun searching for Emilio Delarosa, 32 of Lawrence. He is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Wanda Rosa. Police said Rosa and Delarosa have a son together.
Sources told 7News Rosa’s neighbors heard her son yelling, “Daddy stop, Daddy stop” early Friday morning. A relative called 911, requesting a well-being check at Rosa’s house on Tudor Street.
After making a forced entry, police said they found an unresponsive adult woman, now identified as Rosa. She was transported to Holy Family Hospital, where she later died. Investigators said it looks like she was strangled.
Police said their 4-year-old son was in the home during the incident but they do now know if he witnessed the violence in the house. Delarosa allegedly took the boy to a relative’s home, then took off. A friend of Rosa’s told 7News that Delarosa had a history of violence against his former girlfriend.
“He was in prison for four years before that,” said Izzy Pichardo. “He tried to do the exact same thing and this time, he somehow succeeded.”
According to police, Rosa had a lifetime restraining order against Delarosa.
“She was so forgiving, she thought she was doing the right thing for her son and unfortunately it backfired,” said Pichardo.
Police do not know if Delarosa has left the state. They have asked anyone with information on Delarosa’s whereabouts to call police at 978-983-8698.
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