A 19-year-old unlawful immigrant from El Salvador is accused of fatally stabbing a feminine co-worker he had an “intimate relationship” with — then dousing her physique in gasoline close to a Virginia path.
Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos was arrested Wednesday for killing 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch, who was described as a “loving mom of a 3-year-old lady,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis introduced at a press convention.
Puch was discovered stabbed a number of occasions and drenched in gasoline within the parking zone of Tough Run Park in Nice Falls, about 15 miles outdoors Washington, DC, on Monday.
Davis mentioned investigators discovered that Cedillos-Campos and Puch labored collectively at Bitez restaurant — a Halal-focused eatery in Herndon, Va. — and decided the 2 had been in an “intimate relationship” earlier than the killing.
Detectives are nonetheless working to know the complete image — together with whether or not different relationships might have contributed to the motive.
“We additionally know that our killer left the restaurant on the evening of the homicide with a fixed-blade knife that he took from the restaurant,” Davis mentioned, including that Cedillos-Campos additionally took a pair of latex gloves and a water bottle from the institution.
“We have now video footage of our suspect on the restaurant the place he labored with our sufferer, arming himself with a set blade knife, taking a pair of black latex gloves, taking a water bottle, after which off he goes with the intent to do hurt and kill the sufferer.”
“All very premeditated,” the chief added.
Davis mentioned that Cedillos-Campos siphoned gasoline from a motorbike and stuffed the water bottle in a failed try to set her physique on hearth after stabbing her “repeatedly.”
“The way in which that she was handled by this killer was reprehensible,” Davis mentioned.
Police mentioned a jogger known as 911 after discovering Puch mendacity subsequent to her 2011 Honda Civic in a small gravel parking zone close to the path at round 6:45 a.m.
Cedillos-Campos was arrested in Maryland on Wednesday morning and is awaiting extradition to Virginia, in accordance with Davis.
Davis famous that the 19-year-old has confessed to the killing and is cooperating with the investigation.
Cedillos-Campos was arrested by Border Patrol brokers in April 2024 after he illegally crossed into the US close to El Paso, Texas, in the course of the Biden administration, in accordance with the Division of Homeland Safety.
He was taken into custody by Customs and Border Safety however later launched.
“Biden and Mayorkas hand-delivered alleged killer Cedillos-Campos to the streets of Fairfax County,” a DHS spokesperson mentioned.
“They recklessly unleashed hundreds of thousands of unvetted unlawful aliens into American communities and abused the legislation to take action.”
Davis mentioned his detectives are prioritizing interviewing witnesses, buddies, household and coworkers and that Cedillos-Campos’s “immigration standing performs no position in how they conduct their investigations.”
The investigation into Puch’s homicide is ongoing.
Bitez proprietor Abdul Anwari informed NBC Washington he was shaken to be taught of Puch’s homicide.
“I don’t know for those who can course of one thing like this. It’s not one thing you anticipate. It’s not one thing that anybody would ever wish to occur,” he informed the outlet. “However you recognize, we’re nonetheless taking it minute at a time.”
Puch’s 3-year-old daughter is now being cared for by household after her mom’s demise, Anwari mentioned.
Anwari mentioned a GoFundMe account has been created to assist cowl Puch’s funeral prices and to make sure cash goes “to the daughter and ensure that she’s OK.”
