Paralegal found dead

Paralegal found dead,Police say the body of a 26-year-old woman was found inside the Center

City home of a prominent Philadelphia lawyer.

A source tells NBC10 the body of Julia Law was discovered inside an apart-

ment located at 2000 Delancy Street in Center City around 10 a.m. Satur-
day. The home belongs to criminal defense attorney Chuck Peruto, Jr.,

according to investigators. A source says Law was Peruto’s paralegal for

two years.

Investigators say Peruto’s maintenance man discovered Law’s n*ked body

face down and submerged in water inside a bathtub on the third floor.

“The first thing I did was call 9-1-1 and police showed up. I then went to

homicide to give my accounts of what happened,” said the man who did

not want to be identified.

Investigators say Peruto was not inside the home when Law’s body was

found.

Police are trying to determine why she was inside the home and how she

died.

While the relationship between Peruto and Law has not been confirmed,

Peruto wrote the following on his Facebook Page.

“It’s very hard to find someone who really matches you on all eight cylin-

ders,” he wrote. “I found my soulmate hippy, and can never replace her.

We worked and played, and never got enough life. I’m grateful we made

every minute count, without a single dispute about anything ever. I’m

especially sad for her 10-year-old brother, who was her life, along with her

loving and close sisters, mother and step-father. Earth lost the best one

ever. Happy birthday baby.”

Peruto is best known for representing high-profile clients including alle-

ged mob leaders Joey Merlino, Nicodemo Scarfo and Rian Thal – a 34-year-

old woman who was killed in a double murder at the Piazza at Schmidt’s in

Northern Liberties in 2009.