Fairfax County police are investigating an apparent case of deadly domestic violence that occurred in West Falls Church late last month.
Ana Maria Mena Membreno of Alexandria died last week (Sept. 5) after being transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition days earlier, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
On Aug. 30, officers responded to the 6600 block of Jefferson Avenue after Membreno’s boyfriend called 911 and informed authorities that Membreno was not breathing, police say.
The boyfriend, 35-year-old Robert Howald of West Falls Church, was arrested and initially charged with strangulation and malicious wounding.
As of press time, no additional charges — such as manslaughter or homicide — have been brought against Howald. He is currently in custody and housed at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Shortly after Mena Membreno’s death, friends and family launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses.
“Catalina, like all of us, was not perfect, but she will always be remembered for her big heart, her protective spirit toward her loved ones, and the positive energy she carried everywhere,” a family member wrote.
So far, the campaign has raised more than $6,000.
“May her story also serve as a reminder of the importance of raising our voices against domestic violence and supporting those who suffer from it,” a family member wrote.
Family members told NBC4 that Mena Membreno, who was from El Salvador, didn’t seek help out of fear that she would draw the attention of immigration authorities.
Howald is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in Fairfax County General District Court on December 8, according to online court records.
The case remains under active investigation, according to the FCPD.
