Coroner: Body found is California Marine's wife

VISTA, Calif. - A body found in Southern California is a Marine's wife who disappeared five days ago, authorities said Wednesday.

Coroner's investigators determined the woman discovered near a lake in Riverside County on Tuesday is 22-year-old Brittany Dawn Killgore, sheriff's officials said in a statement.

Authorities said they have arrested Jessica Lynn Lopez, 25, woman on suspicion of murder and are investigating Louis Ray Perez as a person of interest.

Lopez was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

A gun charge was filed against Perez, 45, the last person seen with Killgore.

Killgore had been missing since last week shortly after she filed for divorce from her husband, a 22-year-old Marine deployed to Afghanistan.

The body was found Tuesday in brush 25 miles northeast of Killgore's Fallbrook home.

Perez pleaded not guilty to stealing an assault weapon from a man. He is being held on $500,000 bond. His attorney Jeffrey Reichert said his client has no criminal history, is married and has lived in San Diego County for 10 years.

Investigators said Killgore's husband, Lance Cpl. Cory Killgore, was flying back to California after learning his wife was missing. Sheriff's authorities said he is not suspected in his wife's disappearance.

The couple from Missouri was married in July 2010. Brittany Killgore filed for divorce April 10 and listed "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. She gave no details on the paperwork.

Her cellphone was found in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego, but authorities said it was unclear whether she actually left Fallbrook.

Darryl J. Wrest of Rolla, Mo., confirmed Brittany Killgore is his daughter but said he was not commenting on anything at this time. Killgore's other family members also declined to comment.


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