Another suspect arrested in Maryland in connection with a 2015 murder in Woodbridge

UPDATE #2

2015 Murder Investigation *ADDITIONAL ARREST - On December 28, 2017, an additional suspect was arrested by Montgomery County Police in connection to the 2015 murder of Guillermo HERNANDEZ LEYVA.

The victim’s body was discovered in the 14300 block of Westminister Ln in Woodbridge in Prince William County on September 29, 2015 while police were investigating an unrelated incident. As part of this extensive, ongoing investigation, the accused, identified as Jose Elias AYALA-GOMES, was determined to be involved in the victim’s murder.

Following the investigation, detectives from the Prince William County Police Homicide Unit obtained an arrest warrant for the accused. Several other suspects were previously arrested in connection to this investigation in August, 2017. The accused remains incarcerated in Maryland awaiting extradition.

          Arrested on December 28: [No photo available]

          Jose Elias AYALA-GOMES, 21, of 12914 Parkland Dr in Rockville, MD

          Charged with murder

          Court Date: Pending | Status: Awaiting Extradition

Murder Investigation *ARRESTS [Previously Released] – On August 8, 2017, detectives from the Prince William County Police Homicide Unit obtained arrest warrants for multiple suspects sought in connection to the 2015 murder of Guillermo HERNANDEZ LEYVA. The victim’s body was discovered in the 14300 block of Westminister Ln in Woodbridge on September 29, 2015 while police were investigating an unrelated incident. An extensive investigation into this murder revealed the victim came to Prince William County from Montgomery County in July of 2015.

Once in Prince William County, the victim was beaten and stabbed in a wooded area near the above location where his remains were later located by police. The investigation further revealed the suspects involved and the victim had ties to the criminal street gang Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS13. The suspects were ultimately determined to be directly involved in this murder.

Over the past two weeks, the suspects, with the assistance of multiple Federal law enforcement agencies, were located in various states including Maryland, Indiana, New Jersey and Texas. This investigation, and subsequent arrests, were made possible through a collaborative effort with the Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals and Montgomery County Police. The investigation continues.

Murder Investigation [Previously Released] – On September 29 [2015] at 5:18PM, officers located what appeared to be human remains and bones in a wooded area in the 14300 block of Westminister Ln in Woodbridge (22193) while investigating an unrelated call of a shooting at the Dale Forest Apartments. The remains were collected by the Medical Examiner’s Office and further analysis was completed which confirmed the remains were human. Based upon the Medical Examiner’s analysis, detectives from the Homicide Unit are investigating this death as a murder. The exact cause of death is still pending. Detectives were able to identify the victim as a 19-year-old man of Montgomery County. On October 13, an extensive search of the wooded area was conducted in an attempt to locate any remaining evidence. This search was delayed due to inclement weather in the area the weeks prior. Detectives are continuing their investigation into this incident. At this point, no suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with this investigation. The victim reportedly has no known ties to the Prince William County area.

Identified:

The victim was identified as Guillermo HERNANDEZ LEYVA, 19, of Montgomery County, MD