Killing Of Alexandria Woman With Down Syndrome Leads To Conviction

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The man charged with the murder of an Alexandria woman with Down syndrome was convicted by a jury in court Thursday.

David Cunningham, 41, of Alexandria, was convicted on charges of aggravated murder and rape and faces up to life in prison, as reported by the Washington Post. The conviction relates to the killing of Melia Jones, 23, who was found dead in her apartment at the Mason at Van Dorn on Dec. 7, 2021.

Alexandria's prosecutor Bryan Porter said in court that Cunningham "brutalized and violated" Jones with scissors and strangled her to death on Dec. 4, three days before she was found dead. Cunningham reportedly told police at first he wasn't acquainted with Jones but later admitted to a "brief, consensual sexual encounter," the Post reported.

While Cunningham's defense suggested Jones may have sought relationships with other men, Porter argued that evidence only showed Cunningham as a suspect in the killing.

Jones, born in Puerto Rico, was a 2016 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and 2020 graduate of Pulley Career Center in Fairfax County, according to her obituary. She held positions at Fort Belvoir Commissary, Crystal City Marriott Hotel and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and earned Employee of the Month and Perfect Attendance awards. She is remembered for "her gentle and sweet spirit," love for family, and her Christian faith.