New report details Phoenix woman found dead next to alleged stalker in parking lot

PHOENIX (AZFamily) – A recently released report details leading to the death of a Valley woman after her body was found next to the body of her alleged stalker in a car in the parking lot of a Phoenix steakhouse in July.

According to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner’s report, 25-year-old Doris Aguilar died of a gunshot wound to the head. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Aguilar was last seen on July 1 and was reported missing the next day.

The report says 51-year-old Juan Cuellar, the man who allegedly killed her, was a Lyft driver who lived in his car and was known to park in a Longhorn Steakhouse parking lot near 75th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. Officials say a friend who repeatedly checked on Cuellar went to the parking lot on July 3 to bring him food.

There he found Cuellar and Aguilar in the vehicle. He believed they were asleep, so he “left without disturbing them.” However, when he returned four days later on July 7, he found them in the same position and called 911.

Emergency services arrived and pronounced the two dead at the scene. There was a gun on Cuellar’s lap, and authorities say he committed suicide.

Investigators believed their bodies had been in the car for several days.

25-year-old Doris Aguilar went missing on July 1.(Steve Fischer)

Family members reported Aguilar missing on July 2 after she was last seen leaving her home. Her phone was turned off and her car was found outside Christown Spectrum Mall in central Phoenix. According to the report, most of her belongings were in the vehicle, except for her cell phone and car keys.

According to the report, surveillance video showed her arriving at the mall parking lot on the evening of July 1 and getting into Cuellar’s car before the two drove away.

During the investigation, authorities found a notebook in the vehicle that appeared to be Cuellar’s handwritten notes about Aguilar, detailing his feelings for her.

However, authorities found one entry that apparently mentioned Aguilar’s death, stating, “It was an accident… I had my gun on the side of the seat and she picked it up.” She didn’t know the security was off. I went to grab the gun and it went off. I panicked and left. I know it would be my fault anyway. I couldn’t bear to be without her in my life, so I also started seeing if I could find her. I have a big heart and she always has.”

Police have not confirmed the claims Cuellar made in his notebook.

Authorities say the note goes further, claiming Cuellar wheeled her body around, talked to her while she was in shock and changed her clothes because he “didn’t want her to get dirty.” The message then reads: ‘I hope she can forgive me. Please tell my family it was an accident and also my children: please tell me I’m sorry.”

According to the report, other entries included suicide notes from Cuellar, and others appeared angry at Aguilar.

A private investigator who works for Aguilar’s family previously told Arizona’s family that evidence suggests she was murdered at another location and placed in the car, staged to make it appear as if she had committed suicide.

Family members said Cuellar had a history of stalking Aguilar and that the two had worked together in the same building until he was fired about a year earlier.

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