Hannah Choi Remains Found

Hannah Choi

The remains of missing woman Hannah Choi have been found in Maryland. According to police reports Hannah Choi was reported missing by family and friends after she failed to attend work and missed appointments. When police searched her residence everything appeared to be in order however her bedding was missing. Soon police would focus on her boyfriend Joel Mosso Merino who they could not locate.

Surveillance cameras would reveal Joel Mosso Merino removing a large item from the residence. Joel Mosso Merino would then drive to a park in Maryland where he would spend an unusual amount of time. Unfortunately yesterday, March 29 2022, the remains of Hannah Choi would be found inside of the Piscataway Park. There is a large reward for information on Joel Mosso Merino whereabouts.

Hannah Choi More News

Fairfax County police say the body of Kingstowne resident Hannah Choi has been found, and her family is offering a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of her ex-boyfriend.

Hannah Choi, 35, was last seen March 5 at her home in the 5300 block of Jesmond Street. Friends arrived at the house the next day, but got no answer at the door. After Choi missed several appointments and could not be reached, her friends contacted police out of concern.

Officers searched her house and found everything appeared to be in order except for missing bedding from the bedroom, police said in a news release

Through interviews with friends and family, detectives discovered Choi spent “significant time” on March 5 with her live-in ex-boyfriend, Joel Mosso Merino, 27, the release said.

On March 6, detectives identified a vehicle they believed Merino was driving the night Choi disappeared. On March 7, the car was found in D.C., and a search found “evidence to suggest Ms. Choi was harmed prior to her disappearance,” the release said.

Police then obtained warrants charging Merino with second-degree murder and the disposal of a body, but learned he fled the state, the release said.

Based on search warrants, detectives learned “Merino spent significant time” in the park the night of Choi’s disappearance. On March 14, Fairfax police with help from fire and rescue, George Mason University Police, U.S. Park Police and Mason-Dixon Search Dogs, searched more than 800 acres near the park but did not find Choi, the release said.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s office in Charles County, Md., notified Fairfax police about the discovery of a body near Piscataway Park. Over the weekend, the state medical examiner’s office positively identified the remains as Choi, the release said.

On Monday, Fairfax County police announced a $40,000 reward from Choi’s family and community supporters for information that leads to Merino’s arrest.

According to the release, detectives learned that prior to the murder, Merino planned to fly to Los Angeles on March 8. Detectives were waiting for him at the airport, but he never arrived. They learned Merino traveled to Georgia instead, police said

Anyone with information about 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 or the Fairfax County police app.

https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/hannah-chois-body-found-40-000-reward-offered-for-ex-boyfriends-arrest/article_7389cd5e-af0c-11ec-b494-e38cf8001ba4.html

Joel Mosso Merino Wanted $40000 Reward

Joel Mosso Merino

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.

For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD

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. 

 Joel Mosso Merino Wanted For Hannah Choi Murder

 Joel Mosso Merino

 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.

https://wjla.com/news/local/hannah-choi-missing-woman-fairfax-county-police-case-search-second-degree-murder-charges-suspect-alexandria-virginia-boyfriend-joel-mosso-merino-domestic-abuse-kingstowne-piscataway-park-accokeek-maryland