Police say the teen was lured to a College Park park and killed on Aug. 2; his remains were found in November.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Prince George’s County police said Saturday that three men and a 17-year-old have been arrested and charged in the killing of Jefferson Amaya-Ayala, a 14-year-old from Washington, D.C., whose remains were found last fall in Indian Creek Stream Valley Park.
Investigators said the case began as a missing person report in early August and shifted to a homicide after human remains were discovered in the wooded park on Nov. 3. The suspects — identified as William Cuellar Gutierrez, 19; Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, 21; and Jose Merlos-Majano, 18; along with a 17-year-old from Hyattsville — are accused of luring the teen to the park on Aug. 2 and attacking him. Detectives said Amaya-Ayala knew at least one of the suspects. Authorities said the killing appears to be gang-related, though a motive is still under investigation.
Police said the investigation drew in the FBI and D.C. police as they searched for the teen for months and retraced his movements from the District to Prince George’s County. Preliminary findings from the medical examiner indicated Amaya-Ayala died of multiple injuries. “This arrest is the result of persistent, coordinated work across jurisdictions,” a Prince George’s County police spokesperson said, adding that the department’s homicide unit intends to pursue additional leads. Two suspects were arrested outside the county and are awaiting transfer to Maryland.
Authorities said the remains were identified by the medical examiner after the search team located them off the trail system inside Indian Creek Stream Valley Park. The teen had been reported missing on Aug. 3, with his last known location in Northwest Washington the day before. Detectives said they believe he was brought to the park on Aug. 2 and killed that same day. Officials did not release the manner of death beyond describing multiple injuries, citing the ongoing case. Investigators said the FBI Cross Border Task Force assisted with forensic searches and interviews.
Police named Cuellar Gutierrez, Garcia-Padilla and Merlos-Majano and said the fourth suspect is a 17-year-old from Hyattsville who was not publicly identified because of age. Two of the adults, Merlos-Majano and Garcia-Padilla, were taken into custody in separate jurisdictions — one in the District and one in Alexandria, Va. — and are pending extradition to Prince George’s County. Cuellar Gutierrez and the juvenile are in county custody, according to police. Detectives said they are still piecing together the suspects’ communications and movements in the hours before the killing.
Neighbors near the park said the area is popular with joggers and families during daylight. On Saturday, yellow tape was gone and the trail was open, but residents said the discovery of the remains in November left them shaken. “We walk our dog here every evening,” said Angela Martin, who lives nearby. “It’s heartbreaking to learn a child was hurt in the woods we all use.” A volunteer who joined fall search efforts said the multi-agency response was visible for weeks as teams combed creek banks and side paths.
As of Sunday afternoon, the four suspects faced murder charges in Prince George’s County. Extradition hearings for the two detained outside the county are expected early this week. Police said additional investigative updates will be released after charging documents are unsealed and once the medical examiner completes final reports. The case remains active, and officials said more details could come as early as Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.