In the quiet suburban landscape of Reston, Virginia, a tragic story unfolded in September 2020, forever altering the lives of those who knew Iris Ponce Garcia. The 19-year-old woman was discovered by a passerby in the early morning hours of September 17th, lying between a curb and a parked car near the intersection of Colts Neck Road and Glade Drive. She had been shot multiple times in her upper body, and shell casings were found scattered around her.
First responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
The initial investigation into the death of Iris Ponce Garcia, a waitress, proceeded without immediate suspects or a clear motive, leaving the community unsettled. For a time, the case remained an active investigation with detectives pursuing various leads. Fairfax County police assured the public that the case had not gone cold and that they were actively working on new information that they hoped would bring a resolution.
Years later, a significant breakthrough brought clarity and a measure of justice to the harrowing case. The investigation revealed that Iris Ponce Garcia's murder was connected to the violent activities of the MS-13 gang. It was discovered that she had posted a video on social media that was perceived as disparaging to the gang, which ultimately led to her being targeted.
In October 2024, Elmer de Jesus Alas Candray, a high-ranking leader in the Reston-area cell of MS-13, was convicted of orchestrating her murder, along with several other killings. During his trial, it was revealed that he was a key figure in a string of violent crimes committed by the gang. Testimony from co-defendants who had pleaded guilty detailed the gang's operations and Alas Candray's role in the murders. Following a two-week trial, a federal jury found him guilty on 14 counts, and he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.
