WILMER, Texas — Thursday marked one month since Juan Aguilar-Cano started running from police--one month since he killed Zuleika Lopez and fled to Mexico with his 10-year-old son Ian Aguilar, according to investigators.
Since then, little Ian has been brought back to the States safely, and his mother has been laid to rest.
But, per Lopez's daughter Zuri, justice is still at the front of her mind.
"I feel like I can't really heal until something is done," Zuri Lopez said. "It's been frustrating, and I feel alone--very angry overall."
Police statewide and the public learned Aguilar-Cano's name from an AMBER Alert on November 14th. Per investigators, he killed Lopez overnight or that morning and then took Ian and headed south.
Their vehicle was found at a bus depot in Houston--the company operating it makes frequent trips to Mexico. Shortly after the car was found, Lopez learned from investigators that Ian had been dropped off with family in Dolores Hidalgo and that he was safe.
A plan was quickly developed to send a family member into the country to retrieve Ian and bring him back. On November 25th, after Thanksgiving, Lopez shared a photo with her and Ian at the border.
Sadly, the boy didn't realize his mother had been killed--a hard truth for Lopez to share.
"I was really happy, but simultaneously, I was overwhelmed and sad because he didn't know what had happened yet," Lopez said.
"He's angry and very sad, but I think he uses it to be a good boy and to make my mom proud--channeling it in a good way."
Lopez is raising Ian now, taking him to school in Wilmer from her home in Arlington daily. "I never thought I would have custody of my brother. I love him to death, but it's hard to get used to."
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office is handling the specifics of Zuleika's murder--but it's up to the U.S. Marshall's Service to work with officials in Mexico to find Aguilar-Cano.
Lopez said that it's hard to have patience--she's sharing a new, more recent photo of Aguilar-Cano in hopes that someone in the country might recognize him and help bring him to justice.
"I need answers. I need him back here to answer for what he did for me, my mom, and his son. I don't understand how he could do this to him, of all people. Law enforcement takes all these big cases around the U.S. seriously," Lopez said.
"But right now, I feel kind of alone as far as getting justice for my mom."