Montoya Perry: The Accused Killer in the Uber Eats Carjacking Tragedy
In the early hours of Monday morning, tragedy struck when an Uber Eats driver, Daniel Figueroa, was killed while trying to retrieve his minivan from carjackers outside Loretto Hospital. The woman now accused of his murder, Montoya Perry, took to Facebook shortly after the incident with a chilling post that read, “The [expletive] we had to do to get home is crazy, but we made it ** if u missing a car, u can come get it! We don’t want it!!”
Prosecutors revealed that Perry has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for forgery, gun possession, robbery, burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, escape, and more. She has also been known to impersonate her sister when asked for identification by law enforcement. Just two weeks prior to the fatal carjacking, Perry was arrested by Melrose Park police for driving on a suspended license, fleeing police, and obstructing justice by providing false identification.
During Perry’s detention hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara detailed the events that led to Figueroa’s death. Figueroa had left his light blue Dodge Caravan running outside the hospital entrance while he went inside to deliver an Uber Eats order for a doctor. Security footage captured Perry and two others entering the van, with Perry taking the driver’s seat. When Figueroa emerged and tried to stop the theft, Perry accelerated, causing him to fall and be fatally struck by the vehicle.
Chicago police detectives were able to track the stolen van to various locations in the city and surrounding suburbs before finally locating it parked in Maywood. Perry was apprehended as she returned to the van and attempted to drive away. She was wearing the same distinctive brown jacket and pink pants seen in the hospital surveillance footage. Perry confessed to taking the van and acknowledged seeing Figueroa chasing after the vehicle before she fled the scene.
Perry now faces charges of murder during the commission of a forcible felony and vehicular hijacking. Judge James Murphy III granted the state’s detention petition, ensuring Perry remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.
The senseless loss of Daniel Figueroa has left his family grappling with grief and confusion. As the community mourns his tragic death, the full extent of the consequences faced by Montoya Perry is yet to be determined. The shocking events of that fateful night serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those simply trying to earn a living in today’s world.
