MOUNT VERNON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A man has pleaded guilty and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the September 2020 murder of a Rockcastle County businesswoman.
Arturo Perez pleaded guilty Tuesday in the murder of 54-year-old Famey Hellard, who owned "The Glitter Box" in Mount Vernon. She was found dead inside the store and had about 17 stab wounds to the throat and neck.
Perez also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and tampering with physical evidence. He was indicted on those charges in December 2020.
Shortly after his arrest, Perez admitted to a KSP detective that he murdered Hellard. Perez had no ties to Rockcastle County and told the detective he was looking for an easy target to rob. After killing Hellard, he told investigators he stole her cigarettes before leaving the business.
Circuit Judge Teresa Whitaker's office confirmed to LEX 18 that along with entering the guilty plea, Perez waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Tuesday.
During his hearing, David L. Dalton, Commonwealth's Attorney for Rockcastle, Pulaski, and Lincoln Counties, read a statement to the court from the victim's family.
"You (Perez) took the life of a beautiful lady, a beautiful lady that will never get to enjoy her family and friends," the family said in the statement. "She had finally reached her goal, her dream, of owning and operating her own wedding shop. I found her in a pool of blood. I found her dreams splattered in blood. You have given me a nightmare."
"She died so this man could have a pack of cigarettes," said Dalton. "It is inhuman and makes no sense."
