Police Identify Remains Found in Springfield Area as Missing Teen from Gaithersburg

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- The remains found over the weekend near a Springfield industrial park are those of a teen who went missing from Gaithersburg, Md., Fairfax County Police announced Monday night. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, through an autopsy, has ruled the death a homicide, police said.

Fairfax County Police detectives believe the victim is Damaris A. Reyes Rivas, 15, of Gaithersburg, Md., police said in their announcement Monday night. The teenaged girl was reported missing from Montgomery County, Md., on Dec. 10, 2016.

An autopsy was conducted on the human remains found in the 7100 block of Wimsatt Road on Saturday, Feb. 11. The victim suffered trauma to the upper body, police said.

Detectives are following numerous leads and the investigation remains active. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Fairfax County Police said they were helping another jurisdiction with the search for a missing juvenile when they found the remains. Detectives began their search in Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Park Road, in Springfield. A public information officer told The Washington Post that Reyes Rivas had left home willingly; the Post also reported that detectives believe the girl was killed in Fairfax County.

“We were getting reports that she was involved or acquainted with gang activity,” the spokesperson told the newspaper. “We are looking into the possibility that this might have played a role in her death.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131 or you can Crime Solvers electronically by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637).

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