A Geneva County, Alabama woman has been arrested and charged with the murder of her boyfriend in a case that has shocked the small community of Fadette.
Joselina Elizabeth Lopez, 26, is accused of killing Benito Morales Guzman, 41, and using a chainsaw to dismember his body.
The grisly discovery was made on August 27, 2024, when Guzman’s remains were found in 10-15 trash bags in a car parked behind a home in Fadette, Alabama. According to court records, the alleged crime occurred sometime between August 24 and August 27.
Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms has referred questions about the case to the State Bureau of Investigation. Multiple sources have confirmed that Guzman was shot to death, beheaded and his body dismembered before being placed in the vehicle.
Cops found the garbage bags inside the car as well as a .22-caliber revolver that had five out of six rounds discharged. According to the affidavit, an autopsy revealed two bullets lodged in Guzman’s body.
Lopez is currently being held without bond in the Houston County Jail. She faces a charge of intentional murder, with the possibility of additional charges pending as the investigation continues.
The case came to light when Guzman’s co-worker became concerned about his absence and alerted authorities. Deputies conducting a welfare check made the gruesome discovery of Guzman’s mutilated remains.
Guzman was reportedly seen for the last time at approximately 8 p.m. on August 24. Authorities suspect that the couple’s four-year-old child was present in the house when the murder occurred.
According to court documents, investigators found several pieces of evidence in Lopez’s Toyota Corolla, including an electric chainsaw, knives, and cleaning supplies. They also discovered items suggesting Lopez was planning to flee, such as a car seat, a packed diaper bag, her passport, and her child’s birth certificate.
In a bond hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that Lopez had purchased multiple chainsaws, returning one to a hardware store. They also referenced a recorded conversation with a relative in which Lopez allegedly stated she “should have left earlier.”
The judge denied Lopez bond, citing the nature of the crime and her potential ties to Mexico and Guatemala, where she has family.
Lopez’s defense team has claimed self-defense, arguing that Guzman owed money to a third party for drugs and that her family was being threatened. However, prosecutors dispute this claim, stating there is no evidence to support the self-defense argument.
Jennifer Wilkerson, Guzman’s ex-wife, has spoken out against the self-defense claim. “He was not a violent person,” Wilkerson said. “He did not deserve to be murdered.”
Friends and colleagues remember Guzman as a respected member of the community. He worked as a handyman and for a countertop installation service. Kelly Cifuentes, a family friend, described Guzman as “a good and honest man who was always there to help.”
The case has sent shockwaves through the small community of Fadette. Sheriff Helms noted that this type of crime is highly unusual for the area. “We have not dealt with a similar case of body dismemberment before, except for one other incident a few years ago,” he stated.
As the investigation continues, authorities are awaiting the results of Guzman’s autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The findings could potentially lead to additional charges against Lopez. She faces life in prison if convicted.
Lopez is scheduled for an Aniah’s Law hearing on September 11, which will determine if bail will be set. Aniah’s Law is a relatively new Alabama statute that allows judges to hold certain violent offenders without bond until trial.
As the community grapples with the shocking nature of this crime, the legal proceedings against Joselina Lopez are just beginning. The case is expected to take several months before it goes to trial, during which time investigators will continue to gather and analyze evidence.