Dressed-up newlywed found murdered in bathtub

May 14, 2012 (BURBANK, Ill.) (WLS) -- A new bride was found stabbed to death over the weekend in the bathtub of her southwest suburban apartment.

An autopsy revealed the woman died from multiple stab wounds. Police are now saying her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The body of Estrella Carrera was discovered Sunday afternoon in the 7800-block of South Rutherford Burbank. So far, authorities have had little to say about her murder.

Carrera was a mother of two. The bathtub in which she was found was dry.

According to sources, Carrera was wearing a wedding dress or some other type of formal dress.

An autopsy completed Monday determined that she died of multiple stab wounds.

"They were going around looking in all the dumpsters and behind the dumpsters near White Hen. They were searching for everything until about 7 o'clock at night," said Jason Tokarczyk, the victim's neighbor.

Carrera's body was discovered after her sister became alarmed when she could not contact the woman, who had failed to pick up her two children -- a young daughter and a 2-year-old son -- who were in the care of relatives.

Family members went to her home and knocked on the door without getting an answer on Saturday.

Police were called to conduct a well-being check.

"It's a Mexican lady and her baby. I don't know...what it is," said Theresa Wilbanks, also a neighbor.

Carrera was last seen at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday after her wedding the evening before. On Friday, it is believed she got married to the father of her youngest child.

No marriage certificate is on file because it has not been recorded officially.

Sources say Carrera and a 30-year-old Southwest Side man applied for a marriage license earlier this month.

Lisa Spring lived next door to the woman for about a year. The former neighbor says Carrera moved out of a Chicago home the couple shared a few months ago.

"I didn't know them that well, but in passing, we would say hi and how are you. I can't believe it," Spring said.

Monday afternoon, as the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force investigated, Burbank police had not given a motive for the crime, but said the stabbing was an isolated domestic incident.

That information did little to comfort residents in the area.

"People and families walk their pets...It's kind of weird. It's kind of disturbing that this happened with everyone just around," Alma Estrada said.

Police would not say whether they found a weapon or made any arrests. They also would not say where the car belonging to the victim was located Monday.

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local, evelyn holmes

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