In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the life of 35-year-old Maritza Ferman Sorto was tragically cut short. On August 31, 2025, at approximately 2:42 a.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet of the 9000 block of Centerway Road. When officers from the Montgomery County Police Department arrived at the home Sorto shared with her partner, they found her outside, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of the officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel, Sorto was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the death of the mother of four quickly focused on her partner, 39-year-old Luis Antonio Quintanilla. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division determined that Quintanilla was responsible for Sorto's death and obtained a warrant for his arrest, charging him with first-degree murder. However, Quintanilla had fled the area, leading to a manhunt that crossed state lines.
The search for Quintanilla came to an end the following day, on Monday, September 1, 2025, in Irving, Texas. Individuals who were aware that he was wanted in connection with the murder contacted the Irving Police Department, leading to his arrest. Quintanilla was taken into custody in Texas, where he was held as he awaited extradition back to Maryland to face the first-degree murder charge for the death of Maritza Ferman Sorto. In the wake of this tragedy, the community rallied to support Sorto's four children, with her sister describing her as a 'strong, hardworking mother who did everything for her children.'
