The Fairfax County Police Department confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old man, identified as an illegal immigrant. Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos was charged with stabbing a woman to death in Great Falls and then dousing her body in gasoline on August 17. He was taken into custody and booked on a second-degree murder charge. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later confirmed that Cedillos-Campos had illegally entered the United States through El Paso, Texas.

​On August 19, the Fairfax County Police described chilling details surrounding the violent killing of the 42-year-old victim Carmen Lizet Puch. Officials alleged that she had suffered multiple stab wounds and her body was charred after Cedillos-Campos doused it with gasoline. An investigation found that Puch and Cedillos-Campos were co-workers at a restaurant and had been in an intimate relationship.

Illegal Immigrant Teen Accused of Killing Mother of Toddler in Daylight

Authorities revealed that the Virginia woman was a mother to a three-year-old daughter. A jogger found Puch’s body lying next to her 2011 Honda Civic car at Difficult Run Park. He immediately dialed 911 and informed authorities.​ Police Chief Kevin Davis said the suspect had stabbed her violently multiple times. According to the police timeline, Cedillos-Campos had left his workplace carrying a fixed-blade knife, latex gloves and a bottle of water.

Police believe the teen obtained gasoline from his motorcycle and stored it in the water bottle after emptying it. Cedillos-Campos and Puch then went to the Difficult Run Trail Park, where he allegedly stabbed her multiple times. He then tried to douse her with gasoline, but was partially unsuccessful. However, the woman died from the injuries.​

DHS Says Immigration Policies Allowed Alleged Killer to Enter the U.S.

​A DHS spokesperson confirmed that Cedillos-Campos had entered the country illegally and alleged that the previous administration’s immigration policies allowed him to remain in the United States. Reports show that he was first arrested by border patrol agents back in April 2024. However, the Biden-era administration released him into the country after his arrest, DHS said.

The spokesperson noted, “Biden and Mayorkas hand-delivered alleged killer Cedillos-Campos to the streets of Fairfax County. They recklessly unleashed millions of unvetted illegal aliens into American communities and abused the law to do so.”

On August 20, DHS released an official list that declared Fairfax County as a sanctuary jurisdiction. Their Trust Policy, which has been in place since 2021, has barred county employees from assisting or even sharing information with federal agencies such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The policy allows such information to be shared when required by law or court order.

Investigation Continues in Great Falls Stabbing

During a press conference, Police Chief Davis called the killing reprehensible. He said, “No one deserves to be treated the way that our victim was treated. The way that this killer treated her was reprehensible, to say the least.”

Detectives investigating the murder have not identified a motive for the stabbing. However, they collected evidence within 48 hours of the killing and arrested Cedillos-Campos. Chief Davis noted that the teen did not father the woman’s daughter, and the child is now in the care of Puch’s family.