In the early morning hours of July 1, 2022, a verbal altercation in Woodbridge, Virginia, tragically escalated, ending the life of 46-year-old Claudia Beatriz Morataya. A native of Guatemala, Morataya was a mother known for her bubbly personality and hardworking nature. She was often seen in the community selling bottled water to make a living.
On that Friday, at approximately 4:28 a.m., Morataya became involved in a dispute with an acquaintance, 26-year-old Isaiah Gershon McGriff. Following the argument, Morataya walked into a wooded area off Jefferson Davis Highway. McGriff followed her, and it was there that he allegedly brandished a firearm and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene. A bystander who witnessed the events promptly contacted the police.
Prince William County police officers arrived at the 13900 block of Jefferson Davis Highway to find Morataya in the wooded area, suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of rescue personnel, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation quickly pointed towards McGriff as the primary suspect.
The following day, on July 2, detectives executed a search warrant at McGriff's residence and recovered a firearm believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. McGriff was then taken into custody and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was held without bond pending a court hearing.
