Husband of Brittany Killgore Releases Statement

Updated at 6:20 p.m. Thursday

A statement on behalf of Cory Killgore, the husband of Brittany Killgore, was issued today by the San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Detail.

The body of Brittany Dawn Killgore, 22, of Fallbrook, following a law enforcement investigation into her April 13 disappearance.

Her husband, a U.S. Marine based out of Camp Pendleton, had been deployed to Afghanistan at the time of his wife's apparent murder. He was said to be traveling back to Southern California following news of her tragic death.

Below is his statement:

"My wife Brittany, was beautiful beyond words and her murder has left me devastated. My duty to her memory is now to ensure her good reputation remains intact, and help law enforcement and prosecutors secure justice for the person, or persons who took her away from me.

Brittany's death cannot be in vain—at this point, I don't know how to use this tragedy for good, but others have found their way and I hope to do the same. Brittany meant too much to do any less.

As my father‐in‐law said, please honor my wife's name and don't succumb to salacious gossip and rumor. Brittany was a beautiful, good person, who did not deserve this.

Thank you."

The Sheriff's Homicide Detail said in the news release that Killgore will not be granting media interviews, and that their office would not be making any further comment regarding the case.

Murder charges have been filed against Jessica Lynn Lopez and Marine Sgt. Louis Ray Perez, suspects in the death of Brittany Dawn Killgore.

Today, Deputy District Attorney Patrick Espinoza told Vista Superior Court Judge Kimberlee Lagotta that Killgore was supposed to go out in downtown San Diego the night of April 13 with Perez and another woman, but the other woman backed out.

Later that night, Killgore sent a text message to a friend saying she was in distress and needed help, Espinoza said.

Investigators subsequently contacted Perez, who said he dropped off Killgore downtown, when he in fact was in Fallbrook, according to the prosecutor.

Police searched Perez's vehicle and found Killgore's blood and a weapon, Espinoza told the judge. Killgore's body was found April 17 in southern Riverside County near Lake Skinner.

Perez's attorney, Jeff Reichert, told the judge that a note found when a suicidal Lopez, Perez's roommate—was arrested in a Point Loma motel room exonerates his client. According to Reichert, the note written by Lopez indicates she killed Killgore and that Perez had nothing to do with the homicide.

News reports indicate the Killgores may have been entering divorce proceedings, as Brittany had filed divorce papers in the weeks prior to her disappearance.

—City News Service contributed to this report.