In the autumn of 2024, the life of 18-year-old Alexander Ariel Pavon-Rios was tragically cut short in Washington, D.C. The young man, a resident of Northwest D.C., was last seen on October 27, 2024, and was reported missing on Halloween. A week later, in the early morning hours of November 8th, his remains were discovered in a wooded area in the 2600 block of Dunbar Road, Southeast.
The discovery was made by a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority employee, initially leading to some confusion about the exact location, which was later clarified as being adjacent to Metro property.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Alexander Pavon-Rios had died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. This grim finding prompted the Metropolitan Police Department to launch a thorough investigation, appealing to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible. A reward of up to $25,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case, highlighting the community's crucial role in the pursuit of justice for the slain teenager.
The investigation into Alexander's murder remained active, and months later, it led to a series of arrests. On March 16, 2025, police took 25-year-old Miguel Antonio Hernandez-Orantes of Northeast D.C. into custody, charging him with first-degree murder while armed and premeditated. Just two days later, on March 18, a second suspect, 29-year-old Antonio Benahias Morales of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was arrested on the same charge. The investigative efforts culminated in a third arrest on September 16, 2025, when 21-year-old Angel Manfredi Campos-Melendez of Morningside, Maryland, was also apprehended and charged with first-degree murder while armed and premeditated, bringing a measure of progress in a case that had left a family and a community seeking answers.
