FREDERICK, Md. (7News) — Five people are facing murder charges in connection with a death of a missing 15-year-old boy, according to the Frederick Police Department (FPD).
On Saturday, Feb. 25, family members of 15-year-old Limber Lopez Funez contacted the Frederick Police Department to report him as missing.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 26, detectives found the scene of an assault in the wooded area near Orchard Way. During the investigation, detectives developed information that Funez may have been in the area of Gambrill State Park.
On Monday, April 24, during one of the searches in the Gambrill State Park area, human remains were found and confirmed to be those of Funez, officials said.
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“Since Mr. Lopez Funez was first reported missing back in late February, we have had officers and detectives working tirelessly, investigating this case,” said Chief of Police, Jason Lando. “Our team spent countless hours following leads and conducting searches all over the county. We were all hoping to find Limber alive and well, but sadly that did not happen.”
Detectives continued to investigate the case and were able to develop and collect digital, video, and forensic evidence that led to the identities of the five suspects in Funez’s murder.
Arrest warrants were issued for the suspects and last Friday, the Frederick Police Department, FBI Cross Borders Task Forces C-8, C-12, WFO CR-7, and the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force executed several search and seizure warrants.
All five people were charged with first-degree murder:
- Alexis Alfredo Ayala Lopez, age 21
- Jose Roberto Ramos Lopez. age 23
- Ismael Lopez Lopez, age 29
- Elmer Bladimir Reyes Reyes, age 27
- Ismael Ivan Rivera Canales, age 20
Chief Lando added, “On behalf of the entire team at FPD, our hearts go out to the victim’s family. While we know it will not bring Limber back, we hope the arrests in this case will offer some closure to the Lopez Funez family.”
This case is still being investigated. No further details were immediately available.
The Frederick Police Department is urging anyone who may have information related to this case to contact Detective Yackovich at 240-549-4450 or via email at kyackovich@FrederickMDPolice.org.
FPD also encourages individuals who wish to provide information anonymously to contact the Frederick Police Department’s tip line at 301-600-TIPS (8477), submit information via email to fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org, or send a text message to 240-674-TIPS (8477).
The city of Frederick is a participating jurisdiction with Metro Crime Stoppers (MCS) of Maryland. Submitting a tip through MCS is anonymous, and if the information leads to an arrest or criminal charges, the tipster receives a cash reward. Click here for more information.