19-year-old illegal immigrant arrested after deadly Great Falls stabbing

Key Points:

• Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested in connection with the stabbing and attempted arson murder of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch in Great Falls, Virginia.
• Cedillos-Campos had previously been apprehended by border patrol in April 2024 after illegally crossing near El Paso, Texas, but was released back into the U.S. by DHS.
• Puch, a mother of a 3-year-old girl and coworker of Cedillos-Campos, was found stabbed multiple times and doused with gasoline in a park parking lot; investigators believe the attack was related to their intimate relationship.
• Police allege Cedillos-Campos brought a knife, gloves, and gasoline to the scene, attempted to set Puch on fire after stabbing her, and is currently charged with second-degree murder.
• Authorities continue to investigate the motive and are searching for a black sedan linked to Cedillos-Campos; Puch’s daughter is being cared for by family and is not believed to be connected to Cedillos-Campos.