Family Of Young Woman Killed In Telford 'Crying Out For Justice'

TELFORD, PA — The young woman who was killed in her Telford apartment was found just a day after her 23rd birthday, according to friends and family.

Maria Popol, 23, was originally from Guatemala, according to a GoFundMe.

"A ruthless individual snatched her life away," a family friend, Leslie Escobar, wrote in the fundraiser. "Her parents are devastated and crying out for justice."

Police initially reported a "suspicious death" on Sunday morning before announcing on Friday that Popol was the victim. The Bucks County Coroner's Office confirmed it was homicide, but no further details on the incident are known.

Some details about Popol's life have emerged in accounts from family and friends. She had a boyfriend. She had other family in the United States in Palisades Park, New Jersey, who mourned her in public posts. And she worked at the Don Leo Restaurant on Penn Avenue, where owners say they are shocked and saddened and "struggling to process" the loss.

"She had many dreams ahead of her and a kind heart that touched those who had the opportunity to know her," they wrote. "For a time, Maria worked with us, and we will always remember her for her warmth, dedication, and the positive spirit she brought to those around her."

The GoFundMe is seeking assistance to repatriate Popol's body to her family home to San Martín Jilotepeque, a small mountainous town in Guatemala. Just over $6,000 had been raised from 131 donors as of Friday morning.

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, contact Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354 or Telford Borough Detectives at 215-723-6700.