Mableton woman’s alleged killer arrested after attempting to flee to Mexico

A Cobb grand jury indicted Hugho Pacheco on charges of killing his girlfriend, Yuridiana Villalobos and attempting to flee to Mexico. According to Cobb police, Pacheco, 52, is accused of shooting Villalobos to death in her Mableton home in April.

Family members described Villalobos as a loving woman who worked hard to provide for her family. 

Her oldest son, Brayan Villalobos-Ramirez, who lives in Florida, is now caring for his three younger siblings who have been left motherless following the killing. The son says he wants justice for his mother’s death.

It is unclear at this time as to what led up to Villalobos’ death, but her son said it happened just as his mom was preparing to begin her morning routine. Villalobos-Ramirez said, “My little sisters all they could hear was screams.” 

Investigators spoke with witnesses and the victim’s family to determine Pacheco’s last known location in Cameron, Texas. They then contacted the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers to alert them of Pacheco’s movements. U.S. Marshals were able to apprehend Pacheco in Alamo, Texas before he could cross the border into Mexico.

On a separate matter, Pacheco has also been charged with aggravated sexual battery and child molestation involving a young girl sometime between June and October 2022. 

Following the capture, Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said, “This is an excellent example of what it looks like when law enforcement agencies work together to pursue justice.” Owens credits investigator Larry Griffith, from his office, and Cobb Detective Thomas Chase with tracking down Pacheco once he was identified by Cobb police as the suspect. Working together with the U.S. Marshals Office Task Force, they were able to locate Pacheco before he could cross the border into Mexico.

Jail records from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office show that Pacheco was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on June 1 and is being held without bond.