Teen's Skeletal Remains Found In Takoma Park, Suspect Sought: Police

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Detectives are searching for the person who killed 17-year-old Rosa Diaz-Santos of Greenbelt whose skeletal remains were found Nov. 15 at about 12:30 p.m. in a wooded area in the 1600 block of Drexel Street in Takoma Park.

An autopsy has ruled the manner of death a homicide, according to the Prince George's County Police Department.

Diaz-Santos was last seen Sept. 22 on her way to Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Greenbelt police originally reported her as missing on Oct. 11, FOX DC reported.

Dr. Portia Barnes, principal at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, sent home a letter to the families Monday, which said:

"It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of Rosa Santos-Diaz, a ninth-grade student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. For those of you who knew Rosa, we ask that you remember and celebrate her life. For those of you who did not know Rosa, we ask that you respect our sadness and support us with your understanding. It is very difficult for all of us to face the death of a young person. A support team of school psychologists, professional school counselors, and our pupil personnel worker, from Prince George’s County Public Schools will join our staff to provide counseling and support to students. Counseling will continue to be available to students as long as necessary. We will provide the students with support; however, they may be coming home with questions and worries about this loss. Please feel free to contact me or one of our professional school counselors if you have any issues you would like to discuss."

Detectives are working to determine a motive and identify the suspect(s) in this case. If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to call detectives at 301-516-2512. Callers wanting to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto a mobile device. Refer to case number 22-0055748.