Redondo Beach Police detectives survey the scene outside an alleged murder-suicide. Cheryl Soto and her son, Carter Perez, were found dead in the home. Photo
Two people have been identified one week after an incident police believe to have been a familial murder-suicide.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office identified Cheryl Soto, 38, and her son, Carter Perez, 10, as the pair found dead in their North Redondo Beach home last Wednesday. Soto, a spokesperson said, was determined to have died by hanging suicide; the cause of Carter’s death is being withheld by authorities pending further investigation.
Soto was identified by authorities on Tuesday; Carter’s identity was withheld until Wednesday afternoon, while officials sought to confirm his identity through further medical records.
According to a family member who asked to have their identity withheld, Soto moved the two from San Diego to Redondo Beach in 2018 after separating from Carter’s father.
Redondo Beach police were called to the scene for a welfare check, on the 2100 block of Gates Avenue, after receiving a call from a neighbor. Residents of the building were said to have not seen either of the two for several days. Administrators from Lincoln Elementary School, where Carter attended fifth grade, visited the home prior to the discovery and upon receiving no response recommended building managers contact police.
Neighbors near the complex said they saw responders pulling up to the complex around noon, and three sets of breathing apparatuses were visible on the lawn outside the building.
Residents in the area were surprised to hear the commotion on their otherwise quiet street. The neighborhood is generally tight-knit — a safe place, where people feel comfortable texting or calling one another for favors, or when something has gone wrong.
But the apartment complex, though quiet, is often considered a separate entity, cloistered from the rest of the homes.
“It’s like it’s own little world,” said Lynn, a neighbor whose home lies immediately next to the building.
“The Redondo Beach Unified School District is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students, Carter Perez, and his mother,” Redondo Beach Unified School District Superintendent Steven Keller said in a written statement. “Although Carter joined the RBUSD and Lincoln Lion Elementary School community only one year ago, he was known for his sense of humor and had developed many new friendships during his time here with us. We have counseling supports in place for any students and staff who may need assistance processing their grief during this difficult time.”
