Mum found murdered daughter in the bathroom of her girl's violent ex

Mirelle Mateus eventually broke away from her abusive relationship, but Aaron Romo wasn't prepared to accept it was over

- GAIL SHORTLAND

It was a whirlwind romance that saw a couple moving in together after just one month of dating. But while it appeared that Aaron Romo and Mirelle Mateus were swept up in a new relationship, having Mirelle move into his apartment as soon as possible was an indicator of Romo’s controlling behaviour. He wanted Mirelle where he could watch her every move.

Although the pair both liked to work out at the gym, they were opposites in a lot of ways. Romo, who ran a car upholstery business, liked to drink and party. Mirelle, 24, was a nurse who loved to travel and enjoyed spending time with friends and family.

They met in May 2022 and moved into Romo’s apartment in Anaheim, California. Their relationship was turbulent, with arguments that were usually triggered by Romo’s jealousy. He was possessive and when Mirelle tried to pull back from the relationship, she would confide in her worried family that Romo would threaten to harm himself if she didn’t forgive him. Mirelle said she couldn’t live with herself if he did something bad, but it was hard for her loved ones to ignore the black eyes she tried to hide.

On 5 December 2022, Mirelle went to the police and accused Romo of hitting her and throwing her over the patio railing at his apartment. He was arrested, charged and released on bail. Mirelle applied for a restraining order, which she was granted. It prevented Romo from speaking to her or going anywhere near her until it expired in 2025. Mirelle moved back to her mum’s home and thought she was free, but Romo ignored the restraining order.