Madison, Tenn. — Authorities have arrested a man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of 52-year-old Niurka Alfonso-Acevedo outside Chadwell Elementary School on Monday. Candido Rubio Perez, the estranged husband of the victim, was taken into custody Thursday evening by U.S. Marshals and Metro Nashville police officers.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), Rubio Perez was apprehended without incident near a high-rise apartment complex in Madison. The arrest came after authorities received a tip regarding his whereabouts. At the time of his capture, Rubio Perez was being interviewed by homicide detectives from the MNPD’s Homicide Division.
Investigators believe that Rubio Perez had been waiting outside the school for Alfonso-Acevedo when she arrived for work. Police suspect he attacked her with a knife as she made her way to the building. Neighbors in the area, who heard sounds of a struggle, immediately called 911. The victim’s body was discovered by a school employee who had just arrived for their shift.
Alfonso-Acevedo, who had begun working as a custodian at the school the previous fall, was reportedly estranged from Rubio Perez at the time of the incident. Her death has left a deep impact on the local community, particularly those who knew her as a hardworking member of the school staff.
The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Rubio Perez was arrested around 6 p.m. Thursday, following a coordinated effort between federal and local authorities. He will be booked into custody on charges of criminal homicide and is expected to face further legal proceedings as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about the motive for the attack, but they have emphasized the seriousness of the case and their commitment to bringing justice to Alfonso-Acevedo’s family.
As the investigation unfolds, the MNPD continues to encourage anyone with additional information to come forward.
