Maria Juan Obituary, Death – A missing person case in Birmingham has escalated into a homicide investigation after police discovered the body of 27-year-old Maria Juan in the Five Points South neighborhood. The Birmingham Police Department’s (BPD) Special Victims Unit began searching for Juan early Friday morning after her family reported her missing. According to her family, Juan had not been seen or heard from since the previous night.
At around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, officers were dispatched to The Hillside apartment complex, located in the 1500 block of 17th Street South, to perform a welfare check. The complex is roughly half a mile from Ramsay High School. Upon entering one of the apartments, officers found an unresponsive woman inside. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel were called to the scene and pronounced the woman dead. She was later identified as Maria Juan.
Though the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has yet to confirm all details, police suspect foul play was involved in Juan’s death. Authorities are treating the case as a potential homicide based on evidence gathered so far.
Juan’s family and friends were key in providing crucial information that led officers to a person of interest, someone who was reportedly romantically involved with Juan. This individual was located and detained in downtown Birmingham. The suspect was taken to Birmingham Police Headquarters for questioning and is currently being held in the Birmingham City Jail under a 48-hour felony extension, on suspicion of murder.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of Juan’s death or the investigation into the suspect. The BPD continues to investigate, urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward. Individuals with tips are encouraged to call Birmingham Police at 205-254-1764 or reach out to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Maria Juan’s death has shaken her family and the local community, as the investigation into her tragic end unfolds.