Marianna Reyes, a 22-year-old woman from Fayetteville, NC, was tragically found dead on December 27, 2011. Her body was discovered in the street near her home on Waco Drive early that Tuesday morning. The circumstances surrounding her death were immediately suspicious, leading to an intense investigation by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation quickly identified Alexander Zelaya, a 23-year-old man, as a suspect.
Zelaya, who was Marianna Reyes's boyfriend, turned himself in to authorities in Connecticut shortly after the incident. He confessed to both the kidnapping and murder of Marianna Reyes. Zelaya drove to a nearby Walmart, asked the employees for directions to the nearest police station, and then went to the police station in West Haven, CT, where he confessed to the crime. He expressed fear for his life and mentioned that he believed he had dropped his daughter off at a truck stop before committing the murder.
Zelaya's confession led to his immediate arrest. He was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Marianna Reyes, and additional charges, including kidnapping, were pending. The authorities arranged for his extradition back to North Carolina, where he would face trial. Zelaya's daughter, 22-month-old Juliana Reyes, was found at a Food Lion supermarket in Newport News, VA, and was placed in the custody of her grandparents, who lived in Cumberland County.
The case of Marianna Reyes's murder was a significant event in Fayetteville, drawing attention to issues of domestic violence and the tragic consequences it can have. The legal proceedings against Alexander Zelaya were closely followed, as the community sought justice for the young woman whose life was cut short.
