Teen Pleads Guilty To Brutal MS-13 Slaying Of Girl In Park

FAIRFAX, VA — An Alexandria woman was convicted of murder Monday in the MS-13 gang-related stabbing of a 15-year-old from Gaithersburg, Md.

Venus Iraheta, 18, admitted to the brutal slaying of Damaris A. Reyes Rivas in Fairfax County Circuit Court Monday. Iraheta pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree murder, abduction and gang participation and faces a maximum of life in prison.

Iraheta is one of ten MS-13 gang members charged in the death and is believed to be the ringleader in the killing. Reyes Rivas was killed in Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Va. on Jan. 8, 2017, prosecutors said.

Reyes Rivas was reported as a missing person in December and her body was found in February. She had previously told her mother gang members were threatening her.

Reyes Rivas left her Gaithersburg home on Dec. 10, 2016 and was lured to the park, thinking she was going to smoke marijuana, but found gang members waiting who immediately began interrogating her about the death of Christian Sosa Rivas, Iraheta's ex-boyfriend, prosecutors said. The body of Sosa Rivas, 21, was found in Dumfries, Va. in January.

The group accused her of luring Sosa Rivas to a park in Dumfries where he was slain around New Year's Eve. The group wanted revenge against Reyes Rivas and questioned her about his death.

An FBI special agent who questioned Iraheta said the group wanted Reyes Rivas to "feel as much pain as Christian," according to NBC Washington.

"She told the victim she would never forgive her," said FBI Agent Fernando Uribe. "She would see her in hell. She would never forget her name."

See Related:

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• Reston Woman Pleads Guilty In Brutal Gang Murder: Report
  
• Gaithersburg Teen's Gang-Related Murder: 10 Suspects Charged
• Missing Teen from Lincolnia Returns Home; Now in Police Custody

Reyes Rivas was taken to another park, beaten, and then stabbed 13 times, prosecutors say. The group reportedly threatened to cut off her fingers and set her on fire before they killed her as she stood freezing in the cold. Her killers recorded her last minutes on cell phone videos.

According to Fairfax County Police the four adults charged in the girl's death are:

• Cindy Blanco Hernandez, 18, 11900 block of Winterthur Lane, Reston
• Wilmer A. Sanchez-Serrano, 21, of no fixed address
• Aldair J. Miranda Carcamo, 18, 7000 block of Skyles Way, Springfield
• Jose Castillo Rivas, 18, 5800 block of Brunswick Street, Springfield

Six teenagers were also been charged with abduction and gang participation, police said.

Iraheta, who was 17 at the time of the murder, faces life in prison plus 20 years and will be sentenced May 25.

Photo of Venus Iraheta and Damaris Alexandra Reyes Rivas courtesy of Fairfax County Police/Montgomery County, MD, Police