Third suspect arrested in ‘Miss Flo’ murder
Police: 20-year-old woman may have helped conceal crime
SAN JOSE — A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of 88-year-old Flo Douglas, who was brutally beaten in a home-invasion robbery in September.
Perla Arreloa, who authorities say helped primary suspect Zachary Omar Cuen conceal the killing by disposing of evidence and lying to investigators on multiple occasions, was arrested Friday by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. Arreloa, 20, was charged monday with one count of accessory to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice with an enhancement for offending while free on bail or on her own recognizance, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.
Cuen, who was arrested just days after the home-invasion robbery on Sept. 12, is charged with murder, robbery, burglary and elder abuse. He faces life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.
In March, the sheriff’s office arrested a second suspect, Jennifer Hernandez Jimenez, who authorities say helped Cuen conceal the alleged crime.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Glennon said the case is still active, and did not say whether any other suspects are being sought.
“It’s still an ongoing investigation,” he said. “We’re still putting all the pieces together, and determining how many people may have been involved.”
Known affectionately as “Miss Flo, ” Douglas lived alone in a home on North Cragmont Avenue near McKee and White roads in an unincorporated part of the city. She was a retired beauty salon owner and a beloved member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
According to a police statement of facts, Douglas told investigators that in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, a man entered her home, demanded money and threatened to kill her.
When she told the intruder she did not have any money, he punched and kicked her, knocking her to the floor, and continued to land blows on her. He left and then returned to make the same demands and kicked her several more times, according to the statement.
After ransacking the home, the man took off in Douglas’ car but abandoned it down the street from her home.
Sheriff’s detectives say Cuen went to Arreola’s residence after his assault of Miss Flo and was wearing clothing with fresh blood stains, driving her stolen vehicle and in possession of stolen property belonging to the 88-year-old woman. Authorities say Arreola disposed of some of the stolen items and, with knowledge that Douglas had died from her injuries, continued to lie to investigators in attempts to obstruct the discovery of evidence of the murder.
Douglas spent about one month hospitalized in an intensive care unit before she succumbed to her injuries on Oct. 8.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office at (408) 808-4500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call 408-808-4431.