Post by Scumhunter on Mar 17, 2022 4:29:39 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: wjla.com)
From wjla.com:
LEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — Fairfax County police have charged 27-year-old Joel Mosso Merino in the murder of missing woman Hannah Choi. They do not have Merino in custody and say he's on the run.
"Hannah Choi. A bright, caring, amazing young woman with the world at her reach," said Major Ed O’Carroll, the Fairfax County Police Department's Bureau Chief for Major Crimes. "She was the victim of violence. A victim of murder. And we know the suspect."
Choi, 35, was reported missing on March 6 after she was last seen around 7 a.m. on March 5 at the home she shared with Merino in the 5300 block of Jesmond Street in the Alexandria area of Kingstowne.
Merino is being charged with second-degree murder and the disposal of a body, announced Chief Kevin Davis.
"This is a murder warrant without the recovery of our victim yet. That's unusual in this profession," Davis said during a Tuesday news conference during which investigators said an "abundance of probable cause" led them to obtain the warrants.
"We have evidence and details that make us believe, firmly believe, without any doubt, that she's deceased," O'Carroll said. "This is tragic. My deepest condolences to Hannah's family, friends, and our community. We are committed to finding Hannah and finding her killer."
Crews have already spent two days searching for Choi's body in Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland, and investigators said they would likely return to that area to continue searching.
"We believe that Joel Merino took Hannah's body and disposed of her body in a park in Prince George's County, Maryland, Piscataway Park," Davis said.
A search for Merino is also underway, and the police department calls him "Fairfax County's most wanted". Investigators believe he fled south to Georgia, but may have since left the state or could be back in Virginia.
CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND HER DISAPPEARANCE
"Our victim, 35-year-old Hannah Choi, did nothing wrong," Major Ed O'Carroll said.
Friends went to her home on March 6 when she couldn't be reached.
"Her friends contacted law enforcement at the serious concern for her well-being," said O' Caroll. "Officers our patrol officers rapidly responded and ultimately check the house and the house appeared generally to be an order, except for bedding -- which appeared to be missing from one of the bedrooms."
Through interviews with friends and neighbors, they believe Merino and Choi argued on March 5. Surveillance footage captured the two together that evening.
Detectives believe at some point Choi was "significantly" injured inside the home and Merino removed her body from home and took her to another location.
Several nearby homes are equipped with surveillance cameras, and several neighbors on Jesmond Street told 7News that the Fairfax County Police Department had reviewed the footage from the day Choi went missing.
Police said they identified a vehicle operated by Merino that night and the next day. Police later found that vehicle in Washington D.C. on March 7.
Evidence from the car suggests Hannah was harmed prior to her disappearance, police said.
Choi, who is described as 5-foot-4 and 125 pounds with black eyes and brown hair, has a tattoo of a Chinese symbol on her ankle.
THE SEARCH FOR JOEL MERINO
Working with U.S. Marshals, police believe Merino fled the state.
"He's actively wanted for murder, so use caution," O'Carroll said. "If you know his whereabouts call 911 immediately notify law enforcement right away."
They believe he was in the Atlanta, Georgia area at some point after he fled, but he may have returned to Virginia.
Police are focusing their search for Choi in Piscataway Park because Merino spent time in the park the night and into the next morning of her disappearance. They cited his digital footprint, including things like cell phone pings, as part of the evidence that's been gathered in the case.
"We're anxious to get handcuffs on him," O'Carroll said.
Police say Merino doesn't have a criminal history. and there are no history of calls to the home.
"He's on the run. He's desperate and desperate people are prone to violence," police said.
Police are asking the public to help them find Merino or to share any information they might have on the case. Merino is described as 5-foot-7 and 230 pounds.
Anyone with info, call local authorities. Submit tips through 1-866-411-TIPS or FairfaxCrimeSolvers.org.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-799-7233.
wjla.com/news/local/hannah-choi-missing-woman-fairfax-county-police-case-search-second-degree-murder-charges-suspect-alexandria-virginia-boyfriend-joel-mosso-merino-domestic-abuse-kingstowne-piscataway-park-accokeek-maryland
Thoughts? Based on local media reports, Merino was still at large at least as of March 15th, 2022. This is also a high-profile case in the Fairfax County area so I'm sure we'll continue to see if there are any updates. Also, I slightly edited the otherwise excellent wjla.com report because they left out the s in the Fairfax Crime Solvers url. This is similar to the William Greer and Eric Arceneaux manhunts in we have the fugitive but the missing person's body hasn't been found, but hopefully the manhunt will not last as long as Greer's (which took over a decade) and Arceneaux's (which is still ongoing).
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