Joel Mosso Merino is a man from Virginia who is wanted for the murder of Hannah Choi. According to police reports Hannah Choi was reported missing on March 6, 2022 from a home she shared with Joel Mosso Merino in Alexandria Virginia. When police began to investigate the missing person case they had an immediate feeling that something was not right. Using surveillance cameras in the area they knew that Joel Mosso Merino and Hannah Choi were both home the morning before she was reported missing. Police believe that Joel Mosso Merino either killed or significantly injured Hannah Choi inside of the home before taking her out of the home and disposing her body. The car that Joel Mosso Merino was driving would be found abandoned in Washington DC. If you have any information regarding this case you are asked to call 1-866-411-TIPS
Joel Mosso Merino More News
Fairfax County police have charged 27-year-old Joel Mosso Merino in the murder of missing woman Hannah Choi. They do not have Merino in custody and say he’s on the run.
Choi, 35, was reported missing on March 6 after she was last seen around 7 a.m. on March at the home she shared with Merino in the 5300 block of Jesmond Street in the Alexandria area of Kingstowne.
Merino is being charged with second-degree murder and the disposal of a body, announced Chief Kevin Davis.
Police said they know something bad happened and that Choi is deceased. Search and rescue teams are currently searching for Hannah’s body in Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland.
“We believe that Joelle Merino took Hannah’s body and disposed of her body in a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Piscataway Park,” Davis said.
A search for Merino is also underway. They believe he fled south to Georgia, but they believe he may have since left the state or could be back in Virginia.
Our victim, 35-year-old Hannah Choi, did nothing wrong,” Major Ed O’Carroll said.
Friends went to her home on March 6 when she couldn’t be reached.
“Her friends contacted law enforcement at the serious concern for her well-being,” said O’ Caroll. “Officers our patrol officers rapidly responded and ultimately check the house and the house appeared generally to be an order, except for bedding — which appeared to be missing from one of the bedrooms.”
Through interviews with friends and neighbors, they believe Merino and Choi argues on March 5. Surveillance footage captured the two together that evening.
Detectives believe at some point Hannah was “significantly” injured inside the home and Merino removed her body from home and took her to another location.
Police identified a vehicle operated by Merino that night and the next day. Police later found that vehicle in Washington D.C. on March 7.
Evidence from the car suggests Hannah was harmed prior to her disappearance, police said.
Choi, who is described as 5-foot-4 and 125 pounds with black eyes and brown hair, has a tattoo of a Chinese symbol on her ankle.
Working with U.S. Marshals, police believe Merino fled the state.
“He’s actively wanted for murder, so use caution,” O’Carroll said. “If you know his whereabouts call 911 immediately notify law enforcement right away.”
They believe he was in the Atlanta, Georgia area at some point after he fled, but he may have returned to Virginia.
Police also are focusing their search for Choi in Piscataway Park because Merino spent time in the park the night and into the next morning of her disappearance.
Police say Merino doesn’t have a criminal history. and there are no history of calls to the home.
“He’s on the run. He’s desperate and desperate people are prone to violence,” police said.
Police are asking the public to help them find Merino or to share any information they might have on the case. Merino is described as 5-foot-7 and 230 pounds.
