Camas mother murdered; police seek suspect

Friends are raising money for Luz Guitron’s children

By Dawn Feldhaus
March 22, 2018 5:30 am
News, News

Luz Guitron is pictured here with her daughter and two sons. The 35-year-old Camas mother of three school-aged children, including a Camas High senior, was found murdered in her home off Northeast Everett Street on Sunday, March 18. Camas police have named Guitron's boyfriend, Guillermo Juarez, as their primary suspect and say he may have fled the area. A vigil for Guitron will be held from 6 p.m. today, through 8 a.m. Wednesday, at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 10955 S.E. 25th Ave., Milwaukie, Ore. A Rosary will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, followed by a funeral at noon, also at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Police continued their hunt for a suspected murderer this week, after relatives found the body of Luz Guitron, a 35-year-old Camas mother of three, inside her home Sunday.

Investigators said they found signs of a struggle inside Guitron’s home, in the 2100 block of Northeast Everett Street, and suspect she was a victim of homicidal violence.

Camas police spokeswoman Debrah Riedl said a weapon was involved in Guitron’s death, but added that detectives are not yet disclosing details of the alleged murder.

On Sunday evening, police named Guitron’s boyfriend, Guillermo Juarez, 38, as the primary suspect.

According to Camas police, this is the first homicide to take place in Camas since Oct. 1, 1976.

As of this paper’s deadline, police were still searching for Juarez, described as a 5’9, 170-pound Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. Police believe Juarez has fled the area.

Initially, police believed Juarez might have fled with the couple’s 6-year-old child, but later said the child was found safe with relatives.

Camas Police Captain Shyla Nelson said, prior to press deadlines, that this is a “very open” investigation and declined to answer any new questions about the Camas woman’s alleged murder.

Washougal Police and the Regional Major Crimes Unit have assisted Camas Police in this investigation.

Guitron, a former employee at Natalia’s Cafe in downtown Camas, had three children, including her daughter, a Camas High senior, and two school-aged boys.

In a GoFundMe site set up to help Guitron’s family, Kellian Whidden, who knew Guitron and her children through her work with the Camas High equestrian team, described Guitron and her eldest child as “more than a mother and daughter, they were each other’s best friend.”

Guitron’s daughter, Whidden wrote on the GoFundMe site, “is trying to cope with the loss of a mother, but also her friend, and still be there to support her two younger brothers.”

The site describes Guitron as a woman who was “renowned for her amazing elephant ears and fresh Mexican food at all the local festivals in Camas and Saturday Markets in Vancouver.”

Whidden says the Guitrons are “a local family that really needs to feel the support and love from their local community.”

The site is seeking $50,000 to help support Guitron’s children and cover expenses related to their mother’s tragic death.

To help, visit www.gofundme.com/support-luz-guitron-family.

This is a developing story. Look for updates in print editions of The Post-Record, online at www.camaspostrecord.com, and on our social media platforms on Twitter and Facebook.

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