A Bailey’s Crossroads man is scheduled to face a 15-day jury trial this spring on charges of aggravated murder and felony child abuse.
During a hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court Friday (Aug. 7), a trial date was set for Misael Lopez Gomez, 28, who is accused of killing his three-month-old daughter. Barring continuances or a plea agreement, the trial will begin April 5, 2027.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, officers responded to a report of an infant who was not breathing at an apartment in the 3400 block of Lake Street the evening of March 27. She was unable to be resuscitated at the hospital.
Police later said that the girl died from blunt force trauma, and that Lopez Gomez admitted to repeatedly striking his daughter. In response to an inquiry from FFXnow, his attorney said that she could not comment on the case at this time.
After the arrest, the Department of Homeland Security issued a release saying it had issued a detainer for Lopez Gomez, a native of Guatemala who is not in the country legally.
While Lopez Gomez was initially charged with second-degree murder and child abuse, the prosecution asked a grand jury July 20 to indict on the more serious aggravated murder charge due to the “rare and egregious” nature of the alleged crime, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano previously said.
Aggravated murder is a class 1 felony punishable by a mandatory sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. If convicted, Lopez Gomez would not be eligible for parole.
