Man accused of fatally beating woman with pipe remains on loose

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 | 6:15 p.m.

A man accused of beating a woman to death with a metal pipe and fleeing in her car early Friday remains outstanding and may have changed his appearance, according to Metro Police.

Jaime Santana Jr., 25, ditched the victim's blue Toyota Scion, which officers found Tuesday near Valley View Boulevard and Washington Avenue, police said.

Officers were dispatched to Santana's residence, a house owned by his father, in a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of Lilac Lane, near Rancho Drive and Bonanza Road, police said.

The body of a woman not known to the home's occupants who called police was found with head injuries and lying in a pool of blood about 12:25 a.m.

The victim was later identified as Cinthia Wendy Perez-Rodriguez, 25.

Investigators identified Santana, who was gone by the time officers arrived, as a suspect, police said. He's wanted on one count of murder with a deadly weapon, auto theft and robbery, a criminal complaint shows.

Santana might be wearing his hair shorter than he did on a mug shot investigators released in an effort to find him, police said.

Late last year, Santana faced charges after allegedly breaking into his neighbors' garage and later threatening them with a large kitchen knife, court records show.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro at 702-828-3521 or via email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.