Hi, Crime Junkies. I'm your host Ashley Flowers, and I'm Brett.

And the story I have for you today is one that shows just how quickly the relationships we form with others can turn from something completely innocent and friendly into something a lot more sinister and even deadly.

This is the story of Maribel Ramos.

I'm your host Ashley Flowers.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

I'm Brett.

Getting a text that a loved one didn't come home last night is every crime junkies worst nightmare.

I know for me my mind always jumps to be worst possible scenario, and I don't hear from someone for like a few hours let alone a whole night.

Right.

But outside of our crime junkie bubble, not everyone has that reaction.

And that includes a woman named Lucero Gonzalez.

It's May 2nd, 2013, and she gets a text from her sister's roommate, this 54-year-old guy named Quang Chul Joy, who goes by K.C.

And he basically tells her that he's worried because her sister Maribel didn't come home the night before.

The two of them live in Orange, California, and he says that he went so far as to try and file a missing person's report with the Orange County Police that morning.

But they told him he'd have to wait at least 24 hours.

Because, of course, they did.

Right. But even though he's clearly worried about her, Lucero has a much calmer response.

...