Stabbed for not aborting his baby – the schoolgirl killed by her teen boyfriend
Breana Rouhselang, 17, had a promising future ahead but her life – and her unborn child’s – was cruelly taken away
It was the type of romance that could be found in high schools throughout America. Aaron Trejo, 16, was a football player and Breana Rouhselang, 17, a cheerleader. They’d known each other since primary school and then, at Mishawaka High School in Indiana, romance had blossomed during training and matches.
One thing the young pair had in common was sport. Trejo was skilled on the pitch and, as well as being a cheerleader, Breana also managed the school’s football team and excelled at softball and basketball. She had plans to study athletic training in college after graduation.
But unlike typical teenagers,Trejo and Breana hadn’t gushed about each other on social media, and many friends and family didn’t even know they were having a relationship despite the fact they were having sex. It seemed like a casual affair, but it was about to get more serious.
Towards the end of 2018, Breana was distracted. Usually studious, her teachers were noticing that her grades were slipping. Breana had something on her mind – she’d discovered she was pregnant. Torn about what to do, the teen allowed the weeks to go by before she told Trejo about the baby.
By the time Breana revealed her secret to Trejo, she was six months pregnant and was past the 22-week Indiana state cut-off date to have an abortion – so that wasn’t an option.
Although we can’t be sure what Breana was thinking, it would suggest she wanted the baby to be born. But Trejo was left reeling. He was annoyed that Breana had left it so late. Neither of them were ready to have a baby and they weren’t even going steady.
Now they faced the most grown-up situation of their lives.They talked on and off about what to do. Adoption was on the table but Trejo wasn’t sure how his family would react to that decision. Trejo spent a week coming up with a solution and arranged to meet Breana to put the plan into action.
On Saturday 8 December, Breana told her mum, Melissa Wallace, that she was going to meet Trejo in an alleyway behind their home.They lived a few roads away from each other.
It was a cold night as she headed out around 11pm. Melissa went to sleep but woke up a couple of hours later and realised that her daughter hadn’t returned. She hurried to Trejo’s house to find out if Breana was there and he said she hadn’t shown up where they’d planned to meet. Trejo said he’d lost his phone so couldn’t even get any messages from Breana explaining where she’d gone.
Melissa called Breana’s other friends and searched the area before calling the police. In the alleyway where Breana and Trejo had arranged to meet, officers found glasses and a hat with blood on – they belonged to Breana. Concern for her wellbeing escalated. Had she been attacked while waiting for Trejo?
The search widened and there was a devastating discovery. In the early hours of 9 December, the body of a young woman was found in a rubbish bin behind the local Pasquale Rulli Pizza restaurant, just a block away from Breana’s home. A black plastic rubbish bag covered the victim’s head and upper torso – but when it was removed, investigators knew it was Breana.
The youngster had died from multiple stab wounds and her scarf had been tied tightly around her neck revealing that she had also been strangled before her death. Breana’s unborn baby had died, too.
Naturally, Trejo was identified as a potential suspect and was brought in for questioning. He stuck to the same story that he’d given Melissa – and the police when they’d been searching for Breana. But before long, his story changed and he admitted that he’d killed his pregnant lover.