Loved ones mourn ASU freshman found dead in Chandler garage

On By Pranco

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Friends and family were reeling Wednesday from the loss of Romeo Elias Alvarez.

The 18-year-old was found dead about 24 hours after he was reported missing by his mother, Selena Preciado, who had not heard from him after a family celebration, according to family friend Andrea Varelas.

A concerned person around 3am on Tuesday Chandler police officers arrested near Arizona Avenue and Ray Road to ask if they can check out a garage at a nearby apartment complex.

Upon opening the garage, a police officer discovered Alvarez and a 17-year-old man dead inside. Police have not identified the second teen.

The preliminary investigation suggested their deaths were accidental.

“Our dear sweet Romeo has unexpectedly said goodbye to us,” Varelas wrote on a television channel GoFundMe she began Tuesday, sharing Alvarez’s untimely passing and upcoming funeral services.

“He was a bright young man who had his whole life ahead of him,” Varelas said.

Alvarez’s aunt had called Varelas Tuesday morning to tell Valeras he had been found.

Alvarez was a freshman at Arizona State University studying pre-med. Friends described him as smart, funny and outgoing – the “icebreaker” of the group.

“He always brought people together,” Varelas said.

Varelas met Alvarez’s mother in high school and immediately hit it off.

“We just had a mutual love and respect for each other,” Varelas said of her friend. “Our children grew up together.”

Valeras’ son, Adrian Duarte, 20, was close to Alvarez.

“They became the best of friends, they really trusted each other and grew together,” she said.

They had recently gone to a Schoolboy Q concert in July to celebrate Duarte’s birthday.

They played basketball, listened to music and played “religiously” on the Xbox, Valeras said.

Valeras and Duarte spent the day with Alvarez’s family after hearing the terrible news.

“You want to say so much, but you just don’t know what to say because it’s so new,” Valeras said. “It was always her, my friend and her kids, and she did everything for these kids, so it’s like a whole part of her is completely gone.”

Valeras posted details on the GoFundMe page about how we can help support the family, with the final line reading: “Our wish is nothing other than to see Romeo rest peacefully as we continue to honor his memory.”

‘It’s difficult. No parent should have to bury their child,” Varelas said, “and his mother is beside herself.”