VIOLENT ‘M.U.R.D.E.R’ Migrant, 19, confesses to s.t.a.b.b..i.n.g colleague, 42, to death in ‘brutal, unspeakable way’ after ‘intimate’ relationship
A 19-year-old man from El Salvador has been arrested and has confessed to the fatal stabbing of his 42-year-old female co-worker following what police described as an intimate relationship between the pair. The victim’s body was discovered earlier this week in a parking area near a popular trail in northern Virginia, sparking a rapid investigation that led to the suspect’s capture in neighboring Maryland.
Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos is accused of killing Carmen Lizet Puch, a mother of a three-year-old girl. Both worked at Bitez, a restaurant in Herndon, Virginia. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis stated that investigators determined the two had shared an intimate relationship. Puch’s body was found on Monday morning by a jogger in the gravel parking lot of Difficult Run Park in Great Falls, roughly 15 miles outside Washington, D.C. She was located next to her vehicle and had suffered multiple stab wounds. Gasoline had been poured on her body in what police say was a failed attempt to set it on fire.
According to authorities, the killing showed clear signs of planning. Surveillance video captured Cedillos-Campos leaving the restaurant on the night of the incident carrying a fixed-blade knife, a pair of black latex gloves, and a water bottle. Investigators believe he later siphoned gasoline from a motorcycle and filled the bottle with it. After the stabbing, which Davis described as occurring “in a really brutal, unspeakable way,” the suspect attempted but failed to ignite the body. Police characterized the entire sequence as “very premeditated.”
Cedillos-Campos was arrested in Maryland on Wednesday morning. He has confessed to the killing and is cooperating with investigators, according to police. He is currently awaiting extradition to Virginia to face charges. Records indicate he was encountered by Border Patrol agents in April 2024 after crossing into the United States near El Paso, Texas, and was later released.
Davis emphasized that the suspect’s immigration status has no bearing on how the homicide investigation is being conducted. Detectives continue to interview witnesses, co-workers, friends, and family members to establish a fuller picture of the relationship and any possible motives. The restaurant owner expressed shock at the news, noting that such a tragedy was completely unexpected among the staff.
Puch has been remembered by police as a loving mother. Her young daughter is now in the care of family members. A fundraising effort has been organized to help cover funeral expenses and provide support for the child. The case has drawn attention both for the personal nature of the relationship between the co-workers and for the calculated steps authorities say were taken after the attack.
Local authorities continue to process evidence and gather additional statements. The investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare formal charges. The incident has left the small restaurant community and the victim’s family reeling from the sudden and violent loss.
