JUST IN: Remains found in Maryland may be missing Kingstowne woman, FCPD says

Police may have found the body of Hannah Choi, a missing Kingstowne woman who Fairfax County police believe was murdered.

Charles County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland notified the Fairfax County Police Department yesterday (Thursday) morning that a body was found in Piscataway Park, where the department previously had searched more than 800 acres looking for Choi’s remains.

Officers from the search and rescue team were going to return to the park today prior to the discovery, police said in an update to the media.

“Tentatively, detectives believe the body found is Hannah Choi,” the update said. “Detectives will continually work with the Medical Examiner to confirm the identity and manner of death.”

The department told FFXnow they may not have the information for a positive identification to update the public on until next week.

Police issued an arrest warrant charging her former boyfriend Joel Mosso Merino, 27, who is still at large. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to call 703-246-7800, option 2.

Choi’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise money to catch Merino. The GoFundMe had raised more than $49,000 as of 3:40 p.m. today (Friday).

“Unfortunately, not only was her life taken from us through a senseless act of alleged domestic violence, but her remains also have yet to be recovered, denying my family the ability to send her off to be at peace. Moreover, Joel Mosso Merino, her suspected killer, is still on the run,” the GoFundMe page reads.