Joel Mosso Merino is a man from Virginia who is wanted for the murder of Hannah Choi and now Crime Stoppers are offering a $40,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. According to police reports Hannah Choi was last seen on surveillance at her home in Alexandria however when police went to her home the next day she was not there. Police found out that the day before she went missing Hannah Choi spent the majority of the day with her ex boyfriend Joel Mosso Merino. Police believe that Hannah Choi suffered a severe injury and she was brought out of the home by Joel Mosso Merino who would dispose of her body. Joel Mosso Merino has not been seen since however there are tips from Georgia that he was seen in the State.
Joel Mosso Merino More News
A $40,000 reward is now being offered through Crime Solvers for information that leads to the arrest of Joel Mosso Merino, 27, of Alexandria. The reward comes from Hannah Choi’s family and generous community donations. Detectives from our Fugitive Track and Apprehension Unit continue to investigate to determine Merino’s whereabouts. Detectives learned that prior to the murder, Merino planned to fly to Los Angeles on Mar. 8. Detectives were waiting for him to arrive at the airport, but he never arrived. Detectives learned Merino traveled to Georgia instead.
nyone with information about Joel Mosso Merino ’s whereabouts is asked to contact detectives at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Tipsters are eligible for the reward whether they call detectives directly or us Crime Solvers. Please leave contact information for a detective to follow up with you.
Thursday morning, detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau were notified by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office after a body was found in a wooded area in Piscataway Park. Officers had previously searched more than 800 acres of this wooded area. Officers from our Search and Rescue planned to return to the park and expand the search Friday, prior to the discovery. This weekend, the Medical Examiner positively identified the body as Hannah Choi.
Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the victim’s family is receiving appropriate resources and assistance.
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Joel Mosso Merino Other News
Yesterday, detectives searched the area near Piscataway Park in Maryland for a 35-year-old woman reported missing on Sunday, March 6. Hannah Choi was last seen on Saturday, March 5 at her home in the 5300 block of Jesmond Street in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. Friends arrived at Ms. Choi’s home on Sunday, but Ms. Choi did not answer the door. Ms. Choi missed several appointments and could not be reached. Her friends contacted police out of concern for her wellbeing. Our officers searched the home, and the house appeared to be in order except for bedding which appeared to be missing from a bedroom. Based on her sudden disappearance, detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau assumed the investigation.
Through interviews with friends and family, detectives discovered Ms. Choi spent significant time on Saturday, March 5 with her live-in ex-boyfriend, Joel Mosso Merino, 27, of Alexandria. Detectives believe during their time together Ms. Choi may have sustained a significant injury. Detectives believe Merino then removed Ms. Choi from the home and transported her to another location.
Detectives identified a vehicle they believed Merino was operating the night of Ms. Choi’s disappearance. The vehicle was located the following day, March 7, in Washington, D.C. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, and although Ms. Choi was not found, detectives discovered evidence to suggest Ms. Choi was harmed prior to her disappearance. Based on the evidence recovered from the vehicle and additional interviews, detectives obtained a warrant for Merino for second degree murder and the disposal of a body.
Detectives from our Fugitive Track and Apprehension Unit immediately assumed the investigation and began tracking Merino’s whereabouts. They quickly determined Merino fled the state and notified the United States Marshals Service to aid in apprehending Merino.
Detectives from our Homicide Squad continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms. Choi’s disappearance. Based on records returned from search warrants, they identified Joel Mosso Merino spent a significant time in a park in Prince George’s County the night of Ms. Choi’s disappearance. Officers from our Search and Rescue along with our partners from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, George Mason University Police Department, U.S. Park Police and Mason-Dixon Search Dogs searched the area near Piscataway Park for two days. Detectives continue to review evidence to potentially identify additional locations to search.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about her disappearance or knowledge of Joel Mosso Merino’s whereabouts to contact them at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the victim’s family is receiving appropriate resources and assistance.
This is the sixth homicide of the year in Fairfax County. Year to date, there were three homicides at this point in 2021.