Four suspects arrested in connection with March 15 homicide; body found inside burning vehicle

Murder Investigation *ARRESTS – Detectives from the Prince William County Police Department’s Homicide Unit have identified multiple suspects in connection to the ongoing homicide investigation after a body was discovered inside of a burning vehicle at Veterans Park in Woodbridge on March 15, according to Sgt. Jonathan Perok, police department spokesman.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested three adult men and one male juvenile for their involvement in the victim’s alleged murder. One of the adult men and the juvenile were arrested in Prince William County.

The two remaining adult men were apprehended at a residence in Wilson, North Carolina by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, Sgt. Perok said.

Based upon the information obtained in the investigation, detectives have preliminarily identified the victim, the police department spokesman said. The Medical Examiner’s Office is currently conducting further DNA analysis to confirm this identity. The victim’s identity will be released once confirmed and a next-of-kin has been notified.

The cause of the victim’s death and the fire continue to be investigated by authorities. This case remains a joint investigation with the Prince William County Police Department’s Homicide Unit and the Department of Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal’s Office.

More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.

Arrested on March 16:

          Manuel Enrique ROBLES LOPEZ, 21, of 8152 Claremont St in Manassas

          Charged with murder – accessory after the fact

          Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond

          Arrested on March 17: [Juvenile]

          A 17-year-old male of Woodbridge

Charged with murder

Court Date: Pending | Status: Held at a Juvenile Detention Facility

          Arrested on March 20: [No photos available]

Erick Alexander CONTRERAS NAVARRO, 23, of the 8100 block of Claremont St in Manassas

Denis Ludwin ESPINAL ALVARES, 19, of the 7600 block of Livingston Rd in Oxon Hill, MD

Both suspects above are charged with murder

Court Date: Pending | Status: Awaiting Extradition

Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department at 703-792-7000 or by submitting a webtip at http://www.pwcgov.org/policetip    . 

Previous news reports…..
Homicide Investigation *CASE RECLASSIFIED – On March 16, the body discovered inside of a burning vehicle at Veterans Park located at 14300 Veterans Dr in Woodbridge underwent an autopsy at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Manassas. Based upon further examination of the victim’s body and the preliminary investigation, police detectives and fire investigators are now investigating the victim’s manner of death as a homicide. Due to the condition of the victim’s body, further DNA analysis will need to be completed to confirm an identity. The cause of the victim’s death and the fire continue to be investigated. This case remains a joint investigation with the Police Department’s Homicide Unit and the Department of Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal’s Office. More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.

Suspicious Death Investigation [Previously Released] – On March 15 at 7:47AM, officers responded to assist the Department of Fire & Rescue at Veterans Park located at 14300 Veterans Dr in Woodbridge (22191) with a vehicle fire. A citizen contacted the Public Safety Communications Center to report that a vehicle appeared to be on fire inside the park. Fire crews responded and located the vehicle fully engulfed. When the fire was extinguished, fire crews located a body inside the vehicle and contacted police. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Bureau are currently investigating the cause of the victim’s death. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The victim’s identity is not known at this time. This incident is currently under investigation by Prince William County police detectives and investigators from the Department of Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal’s Office. More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.