Dane Kallungi, 38, was arrested on Wednesday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over two weeks after police in Colorado Springs issued a warrant for his arrest
The husband of a woman who has been missing in Colorado for more than two years has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Dane Kallungi, 38, was arrested on Wednesday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, more than two weeks after police in Colorado Springs issued a warrant for his arrest on June 1.
Dane was trying to get onto the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico when he was arrested, officials said.
His wife, Jepsy Amaga Kallungi, has not been seen since 2019, when she was 26 years old.
Colorado Springs Police Department now believe she was strangled by her husband during a domestic violence incident and her body buried, FOX 21 reports.
Jepsy had moved from the Philippines to the US in 2017 to marry Kallungi after the pair met on a dating website.
But her mother Margie Amaga became concerned when she suddenly stopped replying to Facebook Messenger texts on March 20, 2019.
Jepsy has not been heard from since, KKTV, reports.
‘I just want to know if she’s still alive or dead,’ Margie Amaga said a month later. ‘I don’t know where she is, why she’s gone.’
His wife, Jepsy Amaga Kallungi, has not been seen since 2019, when she was 26 years old
Police launched a missing persons investigation on April 4, 2019.
They launched that investigation after receiving a call to check on her welfare from a friend, according to NBC News.
‘There was talk about a separation but they were married at the time this incident had occurred,’ Lt. Joe Frabbile said during a press conference on Friday.
Margie said that Dane claimed Jepsy went with a friend to either Chicago, Mexico or the Philippines without bringing any ID or her phone.
‘Well, of course, the family and friends of Jepsy have always been concerned since March 2019, we’ve been in contact with family members in Hong Kong and Philippines they’ve been advised of the arrest and are interested in recovering Jepsy,’ Frabbile added.
The Colorado Springs Police Department tweeted about the arrest on Thursday
Jepsy moved to the United States from the Philippines in 2017 and married Dane in July 2017
A text message between Dane and one of Jepsy’s friend shows Dane’s comments that Jepsy was potentially going to Chicago or the Philippines
Nearly three dozen search warrants were executed during the investigation.
Police have not released any potential motive for the alleged murder, for which Dane is being held without bail.
Margie said that Dane and Jepsy met on an online dating site, which led Jepsy to move from the Philippines to Colorado to be with him.
She moved to the United States from the Philippines in 2017 and married Dane in July 2017.
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Court records show that they filed for divorce, but it’s unclear if the divorce was ever finalized.
Police believe Dane moved to San Diego shortly after Jepsy went missing. They are looking to extradite him from New Mexico to Colorado.
Margie, who lives in Hong Kong, has struggled to cope with the investigation as she tries to get a visa to the United States.
Jepsy’s body has not been recovered
‘It’s really hard for me. It’s really painful for me because I am very far,’ she told KOAA. ‘I cannot comfort her, and I don’t know where I find her. I don’t know. I’m only alone.’
Shortly after Jepsy’s disappearance, friends gathered together to pray for her safe return.
‘She just disappeared without a trace, and that’s why we’re here to find her,’ Rachel Jackson said to FOX 21 at the time.
‘I hope we’re going to have answers soon to a lot of our questions,’ added Lourdes Medina.
According to FOX 21, another friend described the relationship between Jepsy and Dane as ‘toxic.’
‘I asked her, “Why do you have to go back with him?”‘ Rhanae Ramos said after Jepsy’s disappearance.
‘And she said, “I want to try the relationship and give him a second chance.”‘
