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 apartment located at 2000 Delancey
Street in Center City around 10 a.m. Saturday. 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 naked 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 cylinders," 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 alleged 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.
Stay with NBC10.com for more updates on this developing story.
Photo Credit: Family photo