Profile

Name: Pedro V. Maldonado (Peter Maldonado)
Aliases: Peter Maldonado
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 32
Height: 5'9\"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Black\rNarrow mustache\rNarrow trimmed goatee
Eyes (Color and Correction): Brown
Wanted for: Murder, Rialto, CA; May 31, 2004

Locations

Last seen: Rialto, CA
Possible location: San Bernardino, CA Rialto, CA Mexico May have fled to Mexico.
Last known: Rialto, CA

Traits

Case Story

Kids Watch Dad Die In Mom's Arms

Cops say that while Cruz Ruiz was doing some jail time in 2003, his best friend, Pedro Maldonado, was moving in on his wife. And according to police, this began a feud that would leave Ruiz dead and Maldonado a wanted man on the run. Cops say that Amber Ruiz reported to her husband in jail that Maldonado would repeatedly come by the house to visit her.  Ruiz sent word from jail that if Maldonado did not back off he'd be sorry.  Police believe that Ruiz threatened to harm Maldonado when he got out of jail, so Maldonado decided to get to him first. On May 31, 2004, a few weeks after Cruz Ruiz was released from jail, Maldonado walked up to Ruiz's car in the street outside of his home and opened fire on Ruiz and his brother, Joey.  Cops determined that Maldonado fired several shots from a large caliber handgun.   Joey Ruiz was only wounded. But Cruz died in a pool of blood, while being cradled in his wife's arms -- as his two small children looked on.  According to cops, his final words to his wife were that Pedro Maldonado shot him and his brother.

A Heartbroken Family In Hiding

Police say that Amber Ruiz, fearing that Maldonado will come after her, has taken her children to another state and is in hiding.  However, she refuses to let this case die.  Despite his criminal past, police detectives believe that Ruiz had turned over a new leaf.  Cops say that Ruiz's life was starting to get back on the right track when Maldonado killed him. Police believe that Maldonado may have fled to Mexico but may return on occasion to his father's house near Rialto, California.