Sixth person arrested in Pa. in connection with murder victim found Jan. 12 in Prince William Co.

Murder Investigation *ADDITIONAL ARREST – On February 23, detectives from the Prince William County Police Department’s Homicide Unit obtained a murder warrant for a sixth suspect sought in connection to the murder of Christian Alexander SOSA RIVAS, according to Sgt. Jonathan Perok, police department spokesman.

The body of Sosas Rivas, a resident of Fairfax, was found along the edge of the Potomac River in the Dumfries section of Prince William County on Jan. 12, 2017.

During the course of the active ongoing investigation into the victim’s death, detectives from the Homicide Unit identified this suspect as also being involved in the murder. Prince William County detectives, with assistance from the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department – K-9 Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, quickly located and apprehended the suspect in Stroudsburg, PA this afternoon. The suspect will be held in Pennsylvania until extradited back to Virginia. Five additional suspects, including a juvenile, were previously arrested in connection to this investigation.

Arrested on February 23: [No photos available]

          Samuel Enrique VILLALOBOS SANCHEZ, 18, of no fixed address

Charged with murder

Murder Investigation *MULTIPLE ARRESTS [Previously Released] – On February 22, detectives from the Prince William County Homicide Unit, with the assistance from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania, located and apprehended three suspects wanted in connection to the murder of Christian Alexander SOSA RIVAS. The victim’s body was located along the shoreline of the Potomac River on January 12. After determining that the suspects were directly involved in the victim’s murder, information was received which indicated they were in the Newtown Township area of Pennsylvania.

Prince William County police detectives with local assistance from the Newtown Township Police Department, Upper Merion Township Police Department, Haverford Township Police Department and the Marple Township Police Department, and with federal assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force successfully located and arrested the three suspects, one of which was identified as a juvenile.

Two additional suspects, both adult women, were charged as co-conspirators in the murder and were arrested in the Baltimore area of Maryland earlier this month.

Detectives from Prince William County believe this murder was gang related as several of the suspects arrested are believed to be members of the criminal street gang Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS13. All suspects will be extradited back to Virginia in the near future.

Homicide Investigation *CASE RECLASSIFIED | VICTIM IDENTIFIED [Previously Released] – On January 13, the body discovered along the Potomac River in the 1500 block of Cherry Hill Rd in Dumfries underwent an autopsy at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Manassas. Based upon further examination of the victim’s body and the police investigation, detectives from the Homicide Unit are now classifying this death as a homicide. The victim was found on January 12 and appeared to have suffered trauma to his body. The investigation continues. This is Prince William County’s first homicide of 2017.

          Identified:

          Christian Alexander SOSA RIVAS, 21, of Fairfax

*Note: Homicide numbers are subject to change based on case reclassification.

Suspicious Death [Previously Released] – On January 12 at 12:40PM, officers responded to the 1500 block of Cherry Hill Rd in Dumfries (22026) to investigate a death. The caller reported to police that while walking in the above area, a man’s body was observed along the shoreline of the Potomac River. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives from the Homicide Unit are investigating the death as suspicious. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination and autopsy. The victim’s identification will be released once confirmed and a next of kin has been notified. The investigation continues.