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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 5, 2005 Manhunt launched in I-5 homicide Police are looking for a Phoenix man in the death of Ana Meraz By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune A manhunt is on for a person suspected of killing a Medford woman whose body was found early Tuesday along Interstate 5 near Ashland. Jose Perez-Silva, 29, of Phoenix, is being sought in connection with the death of Ana Bertha Meraz, who died moments after Oregon State Police troopers found her lying beside an idling Chrysler convertible parked on the freeway’s southbound shoulder near milepost 11. OSP Lt. Kurt Barthel said investigators believe Meraz and Perez-Silva had a previous relationship, but were not romantically involved at the time of Meraz’s death. Police believe Perez-Silva killed Meraz on the freeway then walked back to his home in the 100 block of Fern Valley Road, where he got into a Nissan Pathfinder and drove to California. A person interviewed by police as part of the investigation reportedly saw Perez-Silva at the home at about 9 a.m. Tuesday, Barthel said. OSP has notified California police agencies of the homicide investigation. Perez-Silva is considered armed and dangerous, police said. Advertisement Meraz, 32, of the 3000 block of Connell Avenue in Medford, used a cellular phone to call 9-1-1 at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, telling a police dispatcher she needed urgent medical assistance. A man then took the phone and said he stopped to help Meraz after seeing her 2001 Chrysler Sebring "weaving" in traffic, Barthel said. Investigators do not know whether the unidentified man was Perez-Silva, Barthel said. When they arrived at the scene, OSP troopers and medics found a bleeding Meraz lying alongside her idling vehicle. She died moments later. Barthel said the killer might have initially assaulted Meraz while both were in the car, then continued the attack outside the vehicle. "Blood was found both inside and outside the car," Barthel said. Police have not released the cause and manner of Meraz’s death because of the ongoing criminal investigation. Meraz, who was employed in the bakery division at Harry & David in Medford, was scheduled to be at work when she called 9-1-1 early Tuesday. Barthel said police are still trying to determine why the Medford woman had traveled to the Ashland area. Neighbors of Meraz described her as a hard-working mother of two who was recently divorced. "She was a good mother, a beautiful girl and a good neighbor," said Marion Fernau, who lives next door to Meraz’s home. "I just can’t believe this happened to her." Fernau’s wife, Evelyn, said Meraz usually went to work at 5 a.m. and told her she also worked part-time as a housekeeper to make ends meet. "She said, ‘I’m just doing my best,’" Evelyn Fernau said. "She was a darling girl — as sweet as could be." State child-welfare workers are hoping to place Meraz’s 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter with relatives, said Phil Niemeyer of the Department of Human Services. Meanwhile, even though police believe Perez-Silva is in California, they’re seeking local residents’ assistance in locating him. He is described as a Hispanic male who stands 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and was seen Tuesday morning in Phoenix wearing black pants and a dark-colored button-down shirt. Detectives believe Perez-Silva may be driving a green 1985 Nissan Pathfinder with an Oregon Crater Lake license plate of CL27699. Anyone with information that could assist the police investigation is asked to phone Oregon State Police at 776-6111. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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