Four Arrested in Murder of Teenage Boy Linked to MS-13
Four individuals, suspected members of the MS-13 gang, were arrested in connection with the murder of a teenage boy found in a Maryland park, as reported.
As stated by ABC7 News, the arrested individuals include 18-year-old Jose Mellos-Machano, 21-year-old Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, 19-year-old William Cuellar Gutierrez, and an unnamed 17-year-old. They are charged with the murder of 14-year-old Jefferson Amaya Ayala.
“Sources have confirmed a connection between this crime and the MS-13 gang,” the report mentioned.
Two of the suspects, Cuellar Gutierrez and the 17-year-old, are from Hyattsville, Maryland, while the others are from Washington, D.C., according to a press release from the Prince George’s County Police Department.
On November 3, 2025, “human remains were discovered during a search at Indian Creek Stream Valley Park in College Park,” the release noted. The remains were later confirmed to be those of Amaya Ayala.
The authorities have ruled Amaya Ayala’s death a homicide.
On November 3, 2025, during an investigation into a missing person case, human remains were found at Indian Creek Stream Valley Park. The remains were subsequently identified as Amaya Ayala. The Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be multiple injuries, classifying it as a homicide.
Detectives utilized various investigation techniques, identifying four suspects in the case. Initial investigations indicate that Amaya was lured to the park and killed on August 2, 2025, and he was known to at least one of the suspects. The murder seems to have gang ties, though the motive remains unclear.
The press release detailed that “Cuellar Gutierrez and the 17-year-old are being held in the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections,” while Mellos-Machano is in custody in the District of Columbia. Garcia-Padilla is reportedly being held in Alexandria, Virginia.
In response to these events, Rep. Matt Morgan (R-Maryland) expressed concerns over pending legislation in the Maryland Senate. He noted that two bills aimed at preventing ICE from detaining illegal immigrants will be considered. Morgan questioned, “Why is the Annapolis Democratic Party on the side of murdering gang members instead of citizens?”
