PHOENIX - Irene Luevano, a 37-year-old woman who was reported missing on Jan. 16, has been found dead, and her boyfriend faces charges for her murder."Earlier today, January 20, Phoenix Police investigators located the remains of Ms.
Luevano. The discovery was made in a remote area of La Paz County off Hovatter Road and the I-10 freeway. There was obvious trauma to her body," read a portion of the statement released by Phoenix Police.The body was reportedly found in or near an unincorporated community called Salome.Luevano was last seen with her boyfriend, Jorge Lara, who had been arrested and booked for unrelated alleged criminal offenses.
According to authorities, she told her family she had been stabbed in the neck before her disappearance.Since the discovery of Luevano's body, Lara has confessed to stabbing the mother in the neck while driving, according to court documents.Police said Luevano had tried to run away after the attack, but Lara captured her and put her back into the car before driving out to western Arizona.
She tried to fight back and stabbed him with the knife, but was overpowered and killed, according to court documents.Officials say Lara had gone to a Valley hospital that same morning with a stab wound to the stomach, claiming he had been robbed.