Monrovia Mom And Teen Were Strangled, Coroner Says

MONROVIA, CA – A woman and her teenage daughter found dead in a Monrovia apartment were strangled, the coroner's office said Saturday.

The coroner's investigation found 41-year-old Cecilia Meza and her 17-year-old daughter Kelsey Meza were both strangled, but that Kelsey Mesa also suffered "blunt head trauma," according to the coroner's website.

The victims were found dead about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of West Colorado Boulevard after someone asked police to conduct a welfare check, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The welfare check was sought after the girl failed to show up at Monrovia High School for several days, KCAL9 reported. The school is across the street from the apartment where the bodies were found.

The man wanted in connection with the deaths was identified as Nimrod Perez Guerrero, 33, who investigators said had an on-again, off-again relationship with the woman.

Guerrero, who is Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, should be considered armed and dangerous. He was possibly driving a gray 2014 Toyota Rav4 with California license plate 7FPB132, according to the sheriff's department.

Anyone with information about the killings or the whereabouts of Guerrero was asked to call sheriff's Homicide Bureau Detectives Eddie Aguirre or Tony Guillen at (323) 890-5500.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS or at lacrimestoppers.org.

Related Coverage:

• Manhunt On For 'Armed And Dangerous' Suspect In Monrovia
• Manhunt Continues For Armed Suspect In Monrovia Killings

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department