Maryland Authorities Investigate After Three Unrelated Missing Persons Found Dead Across the State
MARYLAND — In a deeply tragic turn of events, three separate missing person investigations across Maryland ended in sorrow as all three individuals were found dead within days of each other. Law enforcement agencies confirmed that the cases are not believed to be connected, but each has prompted renewed calls for safety awareness and community vigilance.
14-Year-Old Boy’s Death in College Park Ruled Homicide
Authorities in Prince George’s County confirmed that the body of 14-year-old Jefferson Amaya-Ayala, of Washington, D.C., was found on November 3 in Indian Creek Stream Valley Park in College Park. According to officials, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the FBI Cross Border Taskforce were assisting Prince George’s County Police in a missing person investigation when the remains were discovered.
On Friday, investigators announced they have officially launched a homicide investigation into the teen’s death. Detectives have not released further details on how the boy died, but the case remains active, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
65-Year-Old Man Found in Chesapeake Waters
In an unrelated case, the Maryland Natural Resources Police ended their search for 65-year-old Lonnie James Johnson, of Chesapeake Beach, after his body was recovered from the waters of Dorchester County near Taylors Island on Thursday afternoon.
Officials said Johnson had been missing for several days, and search teams from the Natural Resources Police located him deceased during an extensive water search operation. Authorities have not yet released a cause of death, but foul play is not suspected at this time.
26-Year-Old Found Deceased in Howard County Woods
The third case involves 26-year-old Mohammed Halawa, who was found dead in a wooded area of Howard County early Saturday morning. According to police, Halawa’s family had reported him missing and expressed concern for his health, as he was without essential medication during freezing overnight temperatures.
Investigators believe Halawa may have succumbed to exposure while missing in the cold. Howard County Police stated that while the investigation is ongoing, there are no immediate signs of foul play.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Investigations
While police have emphasized that these cases are unrelated, the sequence of discoveries across multiple counties — Prince George’s, Dorchester, and Howard — has shocked residents and drawn attention to the growing challenges of missing person investigations in the region.
Authorities are continuing to investigate each case independently and have asked the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.
Residents with information about any of the incidents are urged to contact local law enforcement. For updates on statewide investigations and community safety alerts, follow ongoing coverage on NapervilleLocal.com.
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