Lawyer For Husband Of Missing Santa Ana Woman Says He Has Nothing To Do With Her Disappearance

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — The attorney for the husband of a missing Santa Ana woman said his client has nothing to do with his wife's disappearance.

Claudia Lisseth Sanchez Reyes vanished 12 days ago. Her husband, Eddy, said he last saw her when he dropped her off in a McDonalds parking lot, where she jumped into a black SUV with friends, according to Marlin Stapleton, Eddy's attorney.

"If she doesn't turn up, the easiest conclusion to draw is that her husband got rid of her," the lawyer said. "My client is extremely distraught and scared because of the circumstances that the media has brought out."

Stapleton told CBS2/KCAL9's Stacey Butler the reason it took Eddy four days to file a missing persons report is because of bad advice from his family attorney. He said Eddy has the texts to prove it.

"He discouraged him from making a report and told him that you can't really make a report on this. There's nothing to make a report of," Stapleton added.

According to a Santa Ana police press release, the 21-year-old was last seen with her husband on May 6. He last spoke to her the next day at 10:45 p.m. about her going to a club with her friends. Three days later on May 11, Eddy reported his wife was missing.

Court records revealed Claudia has been estranged from her husband for at least two years. In March, she filed a temporary restraining order, accusing him of being physically violent. They have even filed for divorce and have reconciled.

Claudia accused Eddy of screaming at her at a laundromat on Feb. 22. "He then struck me in the arm and left me with a big bruise and scar," according to the restraining order. "

Two weeks later, the couple had an argument. "I saw him getting a potato peeler out of the kitchen drawer and he threaten [sic] of killing himself, if I didn't get back with him. My husband has gotten more and more aggressive," court documents showed.

The couple has a 4-year-old son, whom Eddy was not allowed to see. But the boy is now with his father, investigators said.

Police confirmed that Claudia called officers to the couple's apartment at 2015 N. Bush Street 9 times, but there was no evidence of domestic abuse.

Detectives said Claudia's social media accounts have been silent, and her family has not heard from her since before Mother's Day.

Neighbors said Eddy moved the family's belongings out of the couple's apartment the day after his wife went missing.

Stapleton said the lease at that apartment was up and the couple was planning to rent an apartment in Anaheim.

Court records showed Claudia filed a series of restraining orders against her husband. They were either dismissed by the court or dropped by her. Claudia also filed domestic violence complaints, but her husband was never charged.

"We don't know what happened yet. We all really hope and pray that she turns up. She has a four-year-old son," Stapleton added.

Claudia is Hispanic, 5-foot-5, about 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts can call 911 or Santa Ana police Detective Corporal Mike Judson at (714) 245-8390. Tipsters can also call the police watch commander at (714) 245-8700 or the police dispatcher at (714) 834-4211.