A Virginia mother found stabbed to death near a popular hiking trail was allegedly in an intimate relationship with the 19-year-old man now accused of killing her, police say.
Carmen Lizet Puch, 42, of Reston, was found unconscious in the parking lot of Difficult Run Park in Great Falls early Monday morning, Aug. 17.
Authorities pronounced her dead at the scene.
Her car was found parked nearby.
Police later arrested 19-year-old Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos on suspicion of second-degree murder.
He is being held at the Prince George’s County Jail.
At a news conference, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and Assistant Chief Rachel Levy said Puch and Cedillos-Campos were in an “intimate relationship.”
Levy said the pair also worked together at a local restaurant.
Police allege Cedillos-Campos met Puch at the park and repeatedly stabbed her.
Davis said the suspect then allegedly poured gasoline on her and tried to set her on fire, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Investigators believe the attack was planned.
Authorities allege Cedillos-Campos left the restaurant that morning with a stolen knife, gloves and a water bottle that had been emptied and then used to siphon gasoline from his motorcycle.
Davis described Puch as a “loving mother” who leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter.
“The way that she was treated by this killer was reprehensible, to say the least,” he told reporters.
Davis also said Cedillos-Campos was allegedly “fully confessing to our detectives.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Cedillos-Campos is originally from El Salvador and entered the United States through Texas in April 2024 without legal authorization.
DHS said he was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and later released into the country, though the agency did not say exactly when or why.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the charge against Cedillos-Campos is an allegation until proven in court.
Once again the superfluous warning that these are allegation until proven in court. No, they are allegations until he confesses, plea bargains, charges are dropped or he is tried in court. Those are all methods of conclusion not just trial. Trial happens far less often than the other resolutions.
Illegal spik!!! How is this country continuing to be overun by 3rd world trash?
Thank a politician!!
They either orchestrated it….OR sat on the sidelines and let it happen.
She must have been pretty desperate to boink that loser!?