🛗💔 Witness in the elevator heard the little girl whine for her mommy — then her father quietly arranged a pickup across the Mexico border. The chilling moment that exposed a horrific murder and abduction 😲
“Mommy, When Are You Coming?”: Chilling Elevator Encounter Reveals New Details in Ruben Fregosojuarez Murder and Kidnapping Case
The elevator doors slid open on the 7th floor of a nondescript apartment building in Los Angeles, and what should have been an ordinary ride down became a moment one woman will never forget. On the morning of May 26, 2026, 34-year-old Elena Ramirez stepped into the elevator with a man she vaguely recognized from the building and a small, tired-looking 5-year-old girl clutching a stuffed unicorn. The man was Ruben Fregosojuarez. The little girl was his daughter, Daleyza. What Ramirez witnessed and overheard in those tense few minutes has now become crucial testimony in one of the most disturbing cases to rock Southern California this year.
According to Ramirez’s emotional account to investigators and in exclusive interviews, the little girl kept asking in a whiny, exhausted voice, “Daddy, when is Mommy coming? You said Mommy was coming soon.” Fregosojuarez reportedly responded quietly, telling the child to be patient. Moments later, while still inside the elevator, he made a phone call in Spanish. Ramirez distinctly heard him say, “We’re almost at the border. Have someone ready to pick us up on the other side in Mexico. Make sure the car is waiting.” The chilling conversation lasted less than 30 seconds, but it left Ramirez with an uneasy feeling she couldn’t shake.
Less than 48 hours later, Marisol Garcia Palacios, 36, was found dead in the same apartment complex. Her daughter Daleyza was missing. Ruben Fregosojuarez, now the prime suspect, is believed to have fled across the border with the child. The case has gripped Los Angeles, raising painful questions about domestic violence, parental abduction, and how a seemingly normal family could spiral into tragedy so quickly.
The Elevator Encounter: A Haunting Memory
Elena Ramirez still gets emotional when recounting that elevator ride. “The little girl looked so sleepy and confused,” she told CBS News. “She kept rubbing her eyes and asking for her mommy. I smiled at her, but something about the man’s face made me uncomfortable. He seemed nervous, like he was in a hurry.”
According to Ramirez, Fregosojuarez avoided eye contact and kept his answers to the child short. When the girl started whining louder, he gently but firmly told her, “Mommy’s coming later. Be good and we’ll see her soon.” Right after that, he pulled out his phone and made the call that would later prove critical. Ramirez remembers the exact words because they sounded so out of place: instructions about crossing into Mexico and having a pickup ready.
“I thought maybe they were going on a trip,” she said. “But the way he said it… it felt wrong. Urgent. Like they were running from something.” When the elevator reached the ground floor, Fregosojuarez picked up the little girl and walked quickly toward the parking garage. That was the last time anyone in the building saw them together.
Ramirez didn’t think much more about it until the next day when police swarmed the complex. The discovery of Marisol’s body in the apartment sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Neighbors described Marisol as a loving, hardworking mother who doted on Daleyza. Many are still struggling to process how the family they saw every day could hide such darkness.
The Crime That Shocked Los Angeles
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Marisol Garcia Palacios was killed sometime between May 25 and early May 26. She suffered multiple stab wounds, and investigators believe she was attacked while trying to protect her daughter. The crime scene suggested a violent struggle. Fregosojuarez is accused of killing Marisol and then fleeing with Daleyza in a white Land Rover that was later abandoned near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County.
Authorities believe Fregosojuarez crossed into Tijuana with the child. Mexican authorities have been alerted, and an Amber Alert remains active. The FBI and Homeland Security are assisting in the international manhunt. Fregosojuarez faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and child endangerment. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Friends of Marisol say the couple had a turbulent relationship marked by jealousy and control issues. Marisol had confided in close friends that she was considering leaving Fregosojuarez. Whether that decision triggered the alleged violence is now a central focus of the investigation.
A Father’s Desperate Flight
The most heartbreaking element of this case is the innocent 5-year-old caught in the middle. Daleyza Fregoso is described by those who knew her as a bright, talkative girl who loved princesses and her stuffed unicorn. In the elevator with Ramirez, she appeared tired and confused but not physically harmed. That small detail has given investigators and family members some hope that she is still alive and relatively safe.
The phone call Ramirez overheard suggests Fregosojuarez had planned at least part of his escape. He reportedly has family connections in Mexico, and authorities are focusing their search in areas where he might have support. However, taking a child across the border without proper documentation is a serious federal offense, adding layers of complexity to the already urgent manhunt.
Marisol’s family has been devastated. In emotional interviews, her sister pleaded for anyone with information about Daleyza’s whereabouts to come forward. “She’s just a baby,” she said through tears. “She needs her family. Please don’t let her grow up without knowing what happened to her mother.”
Community Reactions and Growing Concerns
The tragedy has hit the local Latino community particularly hard. Many residents in the apartment complex have expressed shock and sadness. Some neighbors admitted they had heard arguments from the couple’s unit in recent months but never imagined it would escalate to murder.
Women’s rights advocates are using this case to highlight the dangers faced by women trying to leave abusive relationships. Domestic violence shelters in Los Angeles have reported increased calls since the news broke, with many women citing fear of similar outcomes.
The case also raises serious questions about how quickly law enforcement can respond to parental abductions, especially those crossing international borders. Experts say the first 48 hours are critical, yet in this instance, crucial time may have been lost before Marisol’s body was discovered.
A City Demands Justice
As the search for Ruben Fregosojuarez and little Daleyza continues, Los Angeles residents are left grappling with uncomfortable realities. How well do we really know our neighbors? How many silent struggles happen behind closed doors in seemingly ordinary buildings?
Elena Ramirez, the elevator witness, says she wishes she had trusted her instincts more that morning. “If I had known what was happening, I would have done something,” she said. “I keep hearing that little girl’s voice asking for her mommy. It haunts me.”
Her testimony, combined with forensic evidence and digital records from Fregosojuarez’s phone, is expected to play a major role if the case goes to trial. For now, the focus remains on finding Daleyza and bringing her home safely.
The white Land Rover abandoned near the border has been thoroughly searched. Personal items belonging to both Fregosojuarez and the child were found inside, suggesting a hasty departure. Border cameras captured a man matching his description crossing with a young girl on the evening of May 26, but the trail has since gone cold.
The Human Cost of Domestic Violence
Behind the headlines and police updates lies a profound human tragedy. A mother’s life violently ended. A child torn from everything familiar. A community left questioning how such horror could unfold in their midst.
Marisol Garcia Palacios was remembered at a vigil as a devoted mother who worked hard to provide for her daughter. Friends say she was full of life, always smiling, and deeply loved Daleyza. Her death represents yet another statistic in the ongoing battle against domestic violence in America.
For little Daleyza, the coming days and weeks will be critical. Child psychologists warn that the trauma of losing her mother and being taken from her home could have long-lasting effects. Finding her quickly and providing proper support is essential for her recovery.
A Call for Awareness and Action
As authorities continue their search across the border, this case serves as a sobering reminder of the need for better domestic violence prevention, faster response systems for child abductions, and stronger international cooperation in cross-border cases.
Neighbors who once shared casual conversations in that elevator now look at each other differently. The building feels quieter. The sense of safety many once took for granted has been shaken.
Elena Ramirez says she hopes her testimony helps bring justice for Marisol and helps reunite Daleyza with her family. “That little girl deserves to know the truth,” she said. “She deserves to be safe.”
Until Daleyza is found, the haunting question she asked in that elevator continues to echo: “Mommy, when are you coming?”
For now, the answer remains painfully unknown. But the search continues, fueled by the hope that one small voice in an elevator may ultimately help bring a lost child home.