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A Maywood woman is behind bars today after a “cold-blooded” carjacking claimed a young life on the West Side.
Montoya Perry, 33, appeared before a Cook County judge on Wednesday for an emotional detention hearing.
Perry is charged with First-Degree Murder and Vehicular Hijacking for the death of 28-year-old Daniel Figueroa.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Perry appeared to smile widely in her latest police mugshot.
The victim, a Downers Grove native, was working as an Uber Eats driver when he was targeted.
Figueroa had just finished an Amazon shift and was working extra hours to support his family.
He was making a final food delivery to staff at Loretto Hospital in the Austin neighborhood.
As he stepped out of his Dodge Caravan around 2:00 a.m. Monday, investigators say Perry pounced.
Prosecutors revealed a chilling detail: Perry admitted she saw Figueroa running toward the van to stop her.
Instead of stopping, she accelerated, dragging the devoted father figure for half a city block.
Figueroa was run over by his own vehicle as Perry and two unidentified accomplices fled the scene.
He was found unresponsive on West Flournoy Street and later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
The 2013 “Plastic Comb” Robberies
This is not Montoya Perry’s first brush with high-profile crime in Chicago.
Investigative records show that in 2013, a 20-year-old Perry was part of a bizarre robbery crew.
She and three other women were arrested in Lakeview for using a 9-inch plastic comb to mimic a handgun.
The group used the comb to “stick up” victims for wallets and backpacks near North Lakewood Avenue.
In 2013, she was also sentenced to seven years for a robbery where she pushed a victim down and threatened to kill them.
Even back then, Perry already had three prior convictions and an outstanding warrant.
The “comb robberies” made headlines for their audacity, but Perry’s crimes have only grown more violent.
More recently, on May 26, 2025, Perry was arrested at 30 N. Michigan Ave.
During that downtown encounter, she was charged with obstructing identification and driving on a revoked license.
She was also charged with operating an uninsured vehicle and failing to keep in her lane.
The “Catch and Release” Failure
Most shockingly, Perry was out on pre-trial release for a crime committed just two weeks ago.
On February 11, 2026, she was arrested in Melrose Park for eluding officers.
During that arrest, she reportedly lied to police by giving them her sister’s name.
Despite her violent history, she was allowed back onto the streets before the fatal encounter with Figueroa.
The Austin community is now pointing to her release as a fatal failure of the local justice system.
The judge in Wednesday’s hearing noted that Perry “left him like garbage” in the middle of the street.
Courtroom Chaos and Community Grief
Tensions boiled over at the 2600 S. California courthouse during Perry’s Wednesday appearance.
A physical fight reportedly broke out in the gallery between the Figueroa and Perry families.
Deputies were forced to intervene as Figueroa’s girlfriend, Sandra Guerrero, wept nearby.
“Daniel didn’t deserve this,” Guerrero told reporters after the hearing.
She noted that Monday, the day he was killed, was actually her son’s birthday.
A GoFundMe campaign for the family has now raised $12,861 to help with funeral costs.
The judge ordered Perry to be held without bond, citing her as a clear threat to public safety.
Recent History
The West Side of Chicago has seen a terrifying spike in “hospital-zone” carjackings this year.
Gig workers delivering to Loretto and Mount Sinai have become prime targets for late-night crews.
Police used License Plate Readers (LPRs) to track Figueroa’s stolen van to Maywood.
Perry was arrested 10 hours later after a short foot chase near her suburban home.
While Perry is in custody, police are still searching for her two accomplices.
Perry is scheduled to return to court on March 18.
