LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Authorities have arrested and charged an 18-year-old illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member in connection with a brutal double homicide that occurred in Sterling, Virginia, on August 28. Sheriff Mike Chapman announced the arrest during a press conference on Friday.
The suspect, identified as Marlyn Medrano-Ortiz of Alexandria, was apprehended on October 23 after Alexandria Police officers recognized him from a law enforcement bulletin. Medrano-Ortiz has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, with additional charges expected as the investigation continues.
The victims, Mijal Conejero-Romera, 22, of Sterling, and her friend, Diego Alexander Woollett, 22, of Arlington, were shot and killed in the 21000 block of Ridgetop Circle following an altercation. Sheriff Chapman emphasized that the case required extensive investigative resources, with over 950 hours of video footage reviewed, numerous search warrants executed, and assistance from multiple law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the Alexandria Police Department.
Sheriff Chapman condemned the violence linked to MS-13 and criticized policies that allow violent offenders to remain in the country illegally. He reiterated Loudoun County’s commitment to working with federal immigration authorities, highlighting their recent collaboration in deporting approximately 100 individuals in the past year.
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Medrano-Ortiz’s arrest comes just months after another high-profile incident in Loudoun County involving an illegal immigrant with MS-13 connections. In July, Melody Waldecker, 54, was killed in a carjacking in Loudoun County, leading to the arrest and first-degree murder charge of another undocumented suspect. Authorities say these arrests send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in Loudoun County.