WUPL-TV, New Orleans

METAIRIE, La. — Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputies are searching for a man who allegedly killed his girlfriend and fled with three of the five children living in the home.

Deputies say Pedro Alberto Monterroso-Navas, 43, faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of Heidi Monroy, 24, who the sheriff's office originally identified as his wife.

Deputies began looking for Monterroso-Navas after authorities responding to a medical call at 3:35 a.m. Sunday found a woman unconscious in a bathtub. Two of the couple's children, a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old, had gone to a neighbor's house to seek help, saying something was wrong with their mother.

Sheriff Newell Normand said Monroy had a head wound and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Normand said Monterroso-Navas fled with his three biological children, including his daughter, 14-year-old Jessica Nicolle Monterroso, and two sons, 4-year-old Yojan Manuel Monterroso-Flores and 2-year-old Jafet Abigaitl Monterroso-Monroy.

The 2-year-old is the biological son of Monroy and Pedro Monterroso-Navas. The 12-year-old and 4-year-old are the biological children of Pedro Monterroso-Navas, while the 8-year-old and 5-year-old are the biological children of the victim.

The sheriff's office has not released any details of a possible getaway vehicle. The couple reportedly does not own a vehicle.