Clayton News Daily

Forest Park Police are still looking for a man last seen leaving a public park, on a Saturday afternoon, leaving behind his wife and a murdered man.

Detectives believe 42-year-old Jose Francisco Gonzales, an employee at Ameri-South Recycling, stabbed Manual Lira in the back at about 3 p.m., on March 1., at Starr Park.

When police arrived, Lira was lying in the parking lot, face down, with "a large wound to his back," according to police reports.

Gonzales hasn't been seen since. He is believed to be driving a white Pontiac Grand AM.

"We're looking at all the possibilities of where he might be," Maj. Chris Matson said.

Originally suspect to have left the state, Matson said police are also looking closer to home and looking at the possibility he is trying to leave the country.

Almost a week after police began looking for the man wanted for murder, they released his photo in hopes of generating leads.

No more information was available on the motivation for the murder. The incident was said to be "a result of a domestic situation."

Gonzales' wife was listed as the primary witness to the murder, in court documents.

Anyone with information about Gonzales or a white Pontiac Grand AM with the license plate ARF-2036, is asked to call the Forest Park Police Department at (404) 608-2388 or (404) 366-4141.

- Daniel Silliman