Illegal immigrant charged with murder of 42-year-old mom in Virginia

Carmen Lizet Puch.

Authorities on Wednesday arrested and charged an illegal immigrant in connection with the killing of a woman in Virginia earlier this week, according local police, who say the suspect made "a full confession" to homicide detectives.

Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, was arrested Wednesday morning in Fairfax County, Virginia. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said Cedillos-Campos is the suspect in the stabbing death of Carmen Lizet Puch, a 42-year-old woman from Reston Virginia.

Davis said the two had an "intimate relationship." Detectives tracked down Cedillos-Campos less than 48 hours after the crime was committed, saying once they learned of the relationship, they zeroed in on the suspect, who was taken into custody across the state line in Maryland.

Cedillos-Campos was charged with second-degree murder.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday that Cedillos-Campos is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and, under Biden immigration policy at the time, he was released into the U.S.

"The Biden administration hand-delivered Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos to the streets of Fairfax County," the DHS said in a post on X. "Cedillos-Campos is a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador who was arrested by CBP in 2024, after illegally crossing the Biden administration’s open border near El Paso, TX. After his arrest, he was RELEASED into the interior of our country."

Puch's lifeless body was found by authorities next to her car early on Monday morning after a jogger called 911 and reported the grisly scene, according to NBC4 in Washington. Detectives discovered Puch's body next to her Honda Civic, which was in the parking lot of Difficult Run Park in Great Falls, ABC7 News reported. She had been stabbed numerous times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the crime occurred inside her car, while Puch was in the driver's seat.

Davis said Cedillos-Campos, after fatally stabbing Puch, doused her with gasoline that he siphoned from his motorcycle and tried to burn her body, but was unable to ignite a flame. He said surveillance footage from the restaurant where the two worked showed Cedillos-Campos arming himself with the knife used in the slaying, as well as latex gloves that he allegedly wore while committing the crime and the water bottle used to hold the gasoline.

Davis also told reporters on Wednesday that the investigation into the relationship between Cedillos-Campos and Puch was ongoing, and added that the two met at the park Monday morning intentionally.

The Daily Wire, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Cedillos-Campos was allowed to enter the U.S. after being stopped at the border in 2024 despite saying he had no fear of returning to El Salvador. Bill Melugin of Fox News posted photos of the teen suspect that he obtained from federal immigration sources.

The DHS called on Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to turn Cedillos-Campos over to federal authorities.

Residents told local news reporters they were horrified by the severity of the crime. Puch has a young daughter and, according to NBC4, she and Cedillos-Campos were co-workers at Bitez, a nearby restaurant. Abdul Anwari, the owner of the restaurant, said he and staff at the eatery were shocked by the news of Puch's killing. “We have a GoFundMe account set up, but we're actually doing, we are personally donating to the family as well,” Anwari said. Photos posted by Puch on her Facebook page showed a young daughter who Davis, the police chief, said is 3 years old.

"Carmen Puch didn't deserve this," Davis said.

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