Mom of Four Fatally Shot After Arriving at Wrong House for Cleaning Job in Indiana

Maria Florinda Rios Perez, an immigrant from Guatemala, was on her way to work with her husband on the morning of Wednesday, November 5, when the couple accidentally arrived at the wrong address, according to her brother, Rudy Rios.

Rios, speaking in Spanish, said his sister had just stepped out of the car and was trying to unlock the front door with her work keys when tragedy struck.

“She tried to open the door using the keys she carried, and that’s when she was shot in the head and fell into the arms of her husband,” Rios said.

“She Was Only Trying to Earn a Living”

The devastated brother described his sister as a hardworking woman who was simply trying to provide for her family.

“It’s so unjust. She was only trying to bring home the daily bread to support her family,” he said. “She accidentally went to the wrong house, but he shouldn’t have taken her life.”

“She wasn’t threatening, she had nothing in her hands, only those keys,” Rios added.

Maria leaves behind four children, ranging in age from one to 17 years old.

“They’re completely destroyed,” her brother said.

Police Investigation Ongoing

According to the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call at 6:49 a.m. reporting a “possible residential entry in progress” in the Heritage subdivision.

When officers arrived, they found an adult female with a gunshot wound and an adult male on the front porch. Despite lifesaving efforts, Maria was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police later confirmed that the individuals involved were members of a cleaning crew who had mistakenly gone to the wrong house.

“It was later determined that the individuals attempting to enter the home were members of a cleaning crew who had mistakenly arrived at the wrong address,” the department said in a statement.

Investigators quickly ruled out home invasion or burglary and described the shooting as an isolated incident.

“The loss of life is always a profound tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,” police said.

Authorities urged the public to remain patient as they continue to investigate.

“We understand that incidents like this can cause concern and speculation,” the police department stated. “We respectfully ask the public to place their trust in the investigative process and refrain from sharing unverified information. These cases are often complex and require time to fully understand.”

Family Demands Justice

Rudy Rios said the family wants the shooter to be arrested, charged, and brought to justice.

“We want justice for my sister and her children — because tomorrow, there could be more victims like this,” he said.

Rios also expressed concerns that racial profiling and anti-immigrant sentiment might have played a role in the fatal shooting.

“She had no bad intentions,” he said.

Now, the grieving family is raising funds to support Maria’s children and to repatriate her body to Guatemala for burial.

“He could have given her a warning, but instead he killed her,” Rios said through tears. “She was very loving, humble, happy, and dedicated to her family.”