Camp Pendleton Marine Lance Cpl. Cory Killgore, whose estranged wife Brittany Killgore was murdered earlier this month, is speaking out for the first time.
Killgore has released a statement through the San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Detail:
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
Camp Pendleton Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Ray Perez, 45, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder for killing Killgore, as has 25-year-old Jessica Lynn Lopez. Lopez and Perez lived together in Fallbrook with another woman. Killgore's grandmother has said Brittany was planning to attend a dinner cruise with Perez and his girlfriend the night she went missing.
As 10News reported yesterday, prosecutors revealed during Perez's arraignment they believe Killgore met up with Perez, but never made it to the dinner cruise:
Killgore sent a friend a text that said "help" while she was with [Perez]. Deputy District Attorney Patrick Espinoza also said that Killgore's blood and a weapon believed to be used on her were found in Perez' vehicle.
Both Perez and Lopez are being held on $3 million bail.
