(Newswire.net — November 18, 2015) — Three members of a so-called sex cult were convicted of murder after the 2012 death of an ex-marine wife. Brittany Killgore’s body was found naked in a southern Riverside County exactly four days after being reported as missing on April 13, 2012. According to investigators, the 22-year-old was strangled to death, most likely with a rope. As authorities continued to dig deeper into the case, it revealed much deeper, darker secrets.
Former Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Perez, Dorothy Grace Maraglino and Jessica Lynn Lopez have been convicted for the murder that has shocked Los Angeles authorities. The case is extremely disturbing. It appears the three defendants were part of a “master-slave” sex cult that participated in dangerous sexual acts, such as bondage, whipping, spanking, cutting, sadism and masochism. Sadism is defined as “the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.” Masochism is the same tendency to derive pleasure and sexual gratification, except this is “from one’s own pain or humiliation.” Both acts imply deliberate cruelty during sexual involvement. These sexual practices make up a lifestyle referred to as BDSM, which stands for bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism. During the court proceedings, Deputy District Attorney Patrick Espinoza explained to the jury that the three killed the ex-Marine wife “for their own sadistic pleasure.”
Espinoza went on to detail the “sex dungeon” that the three defendants had created in the rented home they shared. It was in that area where the malicious activity occurred. Evidence was presented to the jury that proved 49-year-old Perez had bragged about hosting a sadomasochism session on the weekend that Killgore went missing. This boastfulness would directly incriminate Perez in the murder of the young woman.
Court documents revealed that Killgore felt inclined to go on a dinner cruise with Perez in exchange for his help in moving her out of her apartment. Killgore had recently filed for divorce from her marine husband. He was deployed to Afghanistan during her disappearance and murder.
Anat Resnik, a prominent Los Angeles divorce attorney, spoke out on the matter and explained that Killgore’s divorce proceedings were never finished due to her untimely death. Prosecutors agreed and told the jury that Killgore had made it very evident that her intentions with Perez were strictly platonic. In fact, Perez was married to Maraglino, who was pregnant with his child. It appears Lopez lived in the home as well, as a “permanent slave.”
Only moments after being picked up from Perez, Killgore knew there was trouble. A friend testified that she received a text from Killgore within 13 minutes of getting into Perez’s truck. The message simply said “help.” The friend, who chose to remain anonymous, replied back. “Brittany are u okay I am freaking out here.”
Prosecutors described the events of the evening to the jury. It is believed that Perez took Killgore to his house and then contacted 40-year-old Maraglino and 28-year-old Lopez to meet him at the residence. When authorities later investigated the house they discovered the so-called “sex dungeon.” In the room, investigators found “sex apparatuses, toys” and other incriminating evidence, such as ropes, whips, a Taser, a nightstick and spiked gloves.
Prosecutors were quick to explain that Killgore had no idea about the sex cult and was no way a part of the questionable sexual activities that took place.
Perez’ connection with Killgore’s ex-husband stops at the fact that they were both in the military. Cpl. Cory Killgore and Perez were assigned to the same base, Camp Pendleton. Although Perez was on active duty at the time of his arrest, his is no longer in the Marine Corps.
The ultimate piece of evidence that sealed the trio’s fate was a piece of plastic sheet found in Perez’s truck. Prosecutors found Killgore’s blood on it.
After deliberating for three days, the San Diego County Superior Court jury found all three of the defendants guilty of murder. Despite the fact that each defendant’s individual attorneys explained that their client was not present during Killgore’s murder, all three are facing a possibility of life in prison. They will find out their fate during a November 19 sentencing.
Killgore’s family is still coping with the death of the young woman. Her mother, Michelle Wrest left the courtroom after the verdicts were read. She wanted the public to remember that her daughter was a good person.
“She was a beautiful young woman, inside and out, and unfortunately she ran across people that were not good, who were monsters.”