Email signup

UPDATED: Police search for man charged with Kingstowne woman’s murder

Fairfax County Police have been searching a park in Prince George’s County for Hannah Choi’s remains (courtesy FCPD)

(updated at 6 p.m.) Fairfax County police are searching for a Kingstowne man charged with murder after his former girlfriend went missing.

Hannah Choi, 35, was last seen in the 5300 block of Jesmond Street in Kingstowne, where she and her ex-boyfriend Joel Merino lived together, police said.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said this afternoon (Tuesday) the department believes Merino, 27, killed Choi in the house on March 5 and disposed of her body in a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, based on evidence they uncovered at the home and in a vehicle.

“With an abundance of probable cause and an abundance of evidence, we worked with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and we secured these arrest warrants and now the search for Joel Merino is underway,” he said.

Obtaining the warrants before Choi’s body is recovered is something that maybe happens once in a decade, Davis said. The warrants charge Merino with second-degree murder and felony disposal of human remains.

Fairfax County Police are searching for Joel Merino who they have charged with the murder of Hannah Choi (courtesy of FCPD)

Major Crimes, Cyber and Forensics Bureau Chief Maj. Ed O’ Carroll said Choi’s friends called the police March 6 to report her missing after she missed appointments and was not answering the door. “It was very unlike her and she could not be reached,” he said.

Police said the house was in order except for missing bedding. They then found the vehicle in D.C. that they believe Merino used, and discovered evidence indicating Choi was seriously injured before her disappearance, he said. The department is not releasing the specifics on the evidence.

“We know something bad happened, really bad,” O’Carroll said. “We have evidence and details that make us believe, firmly believe, without any doubt, that she is deceased.”

He said the two may have had an argument on Saturday, March 5. Police knew they were in the community together that evening.

Merino spent time the night after she was killed and into the morning in Piscataway Park, Davis said. Police and assisting agencies and teams have been searching the park looking for Choi, he said.

O’ Carroll described Choi as “a bright, caring, amazing young woman with the world at her reach.”

“This is tragic,” he said. “We are committed to finding Hannah and finding her killer. She is a victim of murder. For justice and closure we do need your help.”

O’ Carroll asked anyone who has information about her disappearance, knowledge of Merino’s whereabouts, or anything that could help with the investigation to contact the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-246-7800 Option 2, or to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Solvers call 1-866-411-TIPS.

Police believe Merino uses other aliases, and O’Connell said they did have information that he had fled at one point to the Atlanta area of Georgia in the last week. If anyone sees Merino, they should call 911.

Police said this is the sixth homicide of the year in Fairfax County, in comparison with three homicides at this point in 2021.

Recent Stories

It’s going to be a cold and rainy weekend in Fairfax County, thanks to Tropical Storm Ophelia. Tracking to make landfall in North Carolina today (Friday), the storm is expected to reach Northern Virginia tonight.

Qualtrics, a technology and data research company, has officially opened its doors in Reston. The company, which provides artifical intelligence-driven software to assist businesses with customer and employee “experience management,”…

Tysons Galleria’s commitment to serving up high-end retail continues with the recent arrival of three new clothing stores. A boutique from Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana is now open…

Fairfax County is considering a pilot program to support more murals in its commercial revitalization areas. The pilot program, called Paint It! Fairfax, was introduced at a Fairfax County Board…

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING brings people a fast, affordable, and high-quality solution for all of their interior or exterior residential and commercial painting projects. We respect your time as much as you do and provide the quality paint job you expect, in a timeline that is unexpected.

Schedule a consult today:

E. customerservice@wow1day.com

Read More

Submit your own Community Post here.

FREE Paper Shredding & Food Pantry Collection

Dispose of Documents Securely in an Environmentally Responsible Way!

Gather your paperwork in boxes or bags (no plastics please). Limit your papers to what can fit in one passenger vehicle. Documents go straight from you into the secure mobile shredding

Northern Virginia EV Showcase – Electrify Your Ride

The event will be located at the main campus of George Mason University with ample parking. George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus is accessible via Metro Bus and Cue Bus (Fairfax City bus) and is also located near the Vienna/Fairfax/GMU Metro

×

Subscribe to our mailing list