MS-13 Members Charged In Teens' Murders In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Eleven MS-13 gang members have been charged for their alleged roles in the 2016 murders of two teens in Fairfax County's Holmes Run Park.

According to prosecutors, MS-13 members Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Erick Palacios Ruiz, Ronald Herrera Contreras, Josue Vigil Mejia and others lured Edvin Escobar Mendez, 17, of Falls Church, to the park in August 2016, believing he was part of a rival gang. The gang members reportedly killed the teen and buried his remains in the park.

The following month, ten gang members and others lured Sergio Arita Triminio, 14, of Alexandria, to the park, where he was attacked and killed, prosecutors say. They had believed Triminio was cooperating with police. His remains were also buried in the park.

The gang members charged in this case were Zelaya Martinez, Palacios Ruiz, Herrera Contreras, Henry Zelaya Martinez, Oscar Contreras Aguilar, Yonathan Melgar Martinez, Pablo Miguel Barrera Velasco, Anderson Villatoro, Francisco Avila Avalos and Fredys Baires Abarca.

The two teens' bodies were found in Holmes Run Park in the Lincolnia area in March 2017.

All charged gang members are from El Salvador and face up to life in prison. Here are the full list of charges:

• Elmer Zelaya Martinez, aka “Killer," 27, conspiracy to kidnap
• Erick Palacios Ruiz, aka “Cara de Malo," 20, conspiracy to kidnap
• Ronald Herrera Contreras, aka “Speedy," 20, conspiracy to kidnap
• Josue Vigil Mejia, aka “Horror," 21, conspiracy to kidnap
• Henry Zelaya Martinez, aka “Certero," 24, conspiracy to kidnap
• Oscar Contreras Aguilar, aka “Atrevido," 20, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to kidnap
• Yonathan Melgar Martinez, aka “Oso," 21, conspiracy to kidnap
• Pablo Miguel Barrera Velasco, aka “Oscuro," 20, conspiracy to kidnap
• Anderson Villatoro, aka “Enterrado," 21, conspiracy to kidnap
• Francisco Avila Avalos, aka “Picador," 20, conspiracy to kidnap
• Fredys Baires Abarca, aka “Lil Clandestino," 20, conspiracy to kidnap

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