Police: Man found in Md. was decapitated, had heart removed and stabbed by MS-13 members
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WJLA) — An MS-13 gang member was arrested Saturday, November 11 in connection with the homicide of a unidentified man whose body was found decapitated, stabbed over 100 times and with his heart removed in Montgomery County, according to authorities.
According to Montgomery County Police, Miguel Angel Lopez-Abrego, age 19, was arrested and charged in connection with the murder.
The body was found in a shallow grave buried with the victim's own heart at the Wheaton Regional Park located at 11715 Orebaugh Avenue on September 5, according to charging documents.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF CLOTHING/ITEMS WORN BY UNIDENTIFIED MAN
The unknown victim is said to have been killed sometime between December 2016 and March 2017, and police say he was possibly from Annapolis. He is described as a Hispanic male, approximately five-feet and two-inches tall, weighing around 126 pounds, with short dark brown hair, and a missing lower tooth that officials say may have been evidence he was speaking of smiling at the time of his death.
He was reported to be wearing a gray sweatshirt with the words, “First United Methodist Church Laurel” written on the left chest of the sweatshirt, with a gray hooded long-sleeve shirt underneath with black sweat pants and blue athletic shorts underneath with the number "19" printed on the left side. He was also wearing a rosary necklace.
Lopez-Abrego has been charged and arrested with the first-degree murder of the unconfirmed victim and was located by law enforcement in North Carolina on November 11. He has since been extradited to Montgomery County and will have a bond review Wednesday in the Rockville District Court.
Detectives are urging anyone with information regarding this homicide or the victim’s identity to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
