Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch
Credit: Carmen Lizet Puch/Facebook; U.S. Department of Homeland Security
NEED TO KNOW
- Carmen Lizet Puch, 42, was found stabbed to death near a Virginia hiking trail last month
- Police now allege 19-year-old Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos planned the killing after Puch shared screenshots of their affair with his girlfriend
- Cedillos-Campos allegedly confessed to detectives, but it’s unclear if he has entered a plea
New details are emerging in the case of a Virginia mother who was found stabbed to death near a hiking trail in August.
Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the Aug. 17 death of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch, with whom he was in an “intimate relationship,” PEOPLE previously reported, citing the Fairfax County Police Department.
At a press conference, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis alleged that Cedillos-Campos “repeatedly stabbed” Puch at the park where they met, then doused her with gasoline and tried to set her on fire, but was unsuccessful.
Now, in his arrest warrant obtained by FOX 5 DC, NBC Washington and WJLA, police said they spoke to a witness who allegedly gave more details about Cedillos-Campos’ movements that day.
The witness allegedly told investigators that Cedillos-Campos planned to kill Puch after learning she had “sent screenshots of their affair” to his girlfriend, NBC reported, citing the warrant. The witness also claimed they overheard a phone call in which the suspect told Puch to meet him. Afterward, Cedillos-Campos allegedly called the witness and said he “did it” before hanging up, the warrant states. The witness then contacted police.
Davis and Assistant Chief Rachel Levy previously said at the press conference that the suspect allegedly left the restaurant where he and Puch worked early that morning with a stolen knife, gloves and a water bottle that he emptied and used to siphon gasoline from his motorcycle.
NBC reported that police claimed surveillance footage also showed Cedillos-Campos leaving the restaurant with those items.
Later that morning, Puch was found unconscious near her car in the parking lot of Difficult Run Park in Great Falls, Va., authorities said.
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At the press conference, Davis described Puch as a “loving mother” who left behind a 3-year-old daughter.
The chief previously told reporters that Cedillos-Campos was “fully confessing to our detectives.” However, it’s still unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
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