On July 28, 2022, 14-year-old Kevin Nunez was fatally stabbed at his family's home in Raleigh (Memphis), Shelby County, Tennessee, during a domestic violence incident. His mother's ex-boyfriend, Jose Murillo-Salgado, recently released from jail, came to retrieve belongings, forced his way into the home, grabbed a large kitchen knife, and stabbed Kevin—who was trying to protect his mother—as well as his mother, Claudia Nunez. Claudia died at the scene; Kevin was rushed to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and pronounced dead around 5:30 a.m. Autopsy found two stab wounds (torso and right arm) with a manner of death of homicide. His 16- and 12-year-old sisters witnessed the attack and survived, later being placed with a maternal aunt in Louisiana. Murillo-Salgado fled roughly 230 miles, was arrested in Arkansas, and was convicted of double murder in November 2024.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The fatality report states the mother "broke up with the alleged perpetrator ... before he went to jail due to he pulled a gun on [REDACTED] and her nephew," referencing a prior firearm incident (not the fatal event).
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states the child "had been stabbed twice in the chest with a large kitchen knife" and the autopsy found "2 stab wounds; one to the right arm and one to the torso." The news articles confirm he was stabbed to death.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The DCS opening summary lists prior department history including "Assessment ID: [REDACTED] Allegation: Sexual Abuse ... Classification: Allegation Substantiated / Perpetrator Substantiated 2022," indicating a substantiated sexual abuse finding within the family history. It is unclear who the victim was, so this is ambiguous as to its relation to this child.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The perpetrator was the mother's ex-boyfriend, referred to in the intake as "his stepfather [REDACTED]" and elsewhere as "the mothers boyfriend." He fatally stabbed the child, making a male paramour/quasi-stepfather the perpetrator.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The intake summary lists prior DCS history: "Substantiated: INV# [REDACTED] ... ASPS/05-09-2022" and "History (not listed above): Yes ASMT ... Unable to Complete/09-27-2013," indicating prior child protection reports involving the family.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article reports "a man was arrested for their murders" — 42-year-old Jose Murillo Salgado — and the court/news article states a Shelby County jury "convicted Jose Murillo-Salgado on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder." The fatality report notes "Mr. [REDACTED] is charged with murder times two."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The case was classified as substantiated for Domestic Violence; the report states "During a domestic violence incident, [REDACTED] was fatally wounded by Mr. [REDACTED]" and "It is reported there had been a history of domestic violence." The news article notes "the incident was domestic-related."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The perpetrator had prior criminal history predating the killings: he "went to jail for pulling a gun on" the family, was "released from Jail on Monday, 7/25/22," and his background showed "AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, DOMESTIC ASSAULT-BODILY HARM, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, CRIMINAL TRESPASS."
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The perpetrator's background check (JSSI) lists charges including "PUBLIC INTOXICATION," implying prior substance use by the alleged perpetrator/caregiver figure, though the intake notes "no information on any drug alcohol use" regarding the incident itself.
Notable Details
Several systemic and procedural details emerge: the DCS investigation remained open for roughly two years (death July 2022, closure 2024) largely pending an autopsy; the surviving siblings were placed via ICPC with a maternal aunt in Louisiana, but Louisiana DCFS declined to complete a courtesy welfare visit ("DCFS is unable to complete the courtesy request"), creating an oversight gap. There is also a prior substantiated DCS history for the family and the perpetrator had been released from jail just days before the killings despite a documented history of pulling a gun on the family. The perpetrator fled approximately 230 miles to Arkansas and was later convicted on multiple counts of first-degree murder in November 2024.
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