Woman Found Dead In Columbia Home, Police Hunt For Her Killer

COLUMBIA, MD — Police are searching for a 24-year-old man who they say killed his girlfriend in Columbia this past weekend.

Howard County police officers were called to a home located in the 9000 block of Watchlight Court in Columbia in the afternoon of July 26. A friend of the suspect found Esmeralda Perez-Mendez, 35, of Takoma Park dead in the suspect's bedroom, according to the police department.

Perez-Mendez suffered injuries consistent with strangulation, Howard County Police reported. Detectives believe she may have been killed in the overnight hours of July 25-26.

Howard County Police has obtained an arrest warrant for her boyfriend, identified as Darwin Carcamo-Santiago. He has been charged with first- and second-degree murder.

Police believe Carcamo-Santiago has fled the area. He has been described as 5'7 and weighing 140 pounds.

Anyone with information about Carcamo-Santiago's whereabouts is asked to contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.