Rockville, Maryland – A Maryland man will spend decades behind bars after admitting to killing his ex-girlfriend during a confrontation over a music playlist, concealing her body in trash bags, and throwing her off a bridge before going on to celebrate New Year’s Eve in another state. Prosecutors said he later reported her missing and misled authorities for nearly a month.
Incident Overview
Prosecutors announced that 33-year-old Francisco Lara-Garcia has been sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended for murdering 20-year-old Keylin Chavez Dominguez. According to officials, he pleaded guilty in March to first-degree murder in a case that shocked the Montgomery County community.
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing this week, noting that the crime involved calculated violence followed by efforts to evade suspicion and flee the area.
Relationship Background and Rising Tension
According to investigators, Lara-Garcia and Chavez Dominguez began dating in early 2021 while living in Honduras. After moving to the United States, they continued their relationship and lived together in an apartment in Rockville, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Court documents state that their relationship deteriorated in August 2022, when the victim began dating another man. Although the couple had broken up, they continued living together, and the situation created growing jealousy and resentment.
Timeline of Victim’s Disappearance
The victim was last heard from on December 30, 2022, when she texted her new boyfriend. When she failed to contact him the following day and did not appear for their planned meeting, he grew concerned and began searching for her.
He called Lara-Garcia, who claimed he had no knowledge of her location.
At the urging of Chavez Dominguez’s family, Lara-Garcia reported her missing on January 2, 2023. Police immediately noticed concerning gaps in his account.
Investigators wrote that Lara-Garcia’s statements “revealed inconsistencies and inaccuracies,” suggesting he was withholding information about the disappearance.
Discovery of the Body Under Highway Bridge
Nearly a month later, on January 28, 2023, a man walking his dog under the eastbound Intercounty Connector near New Hampshire Avenue and Columbia Pike in Silver Spring discovered a woman’s body hidden among trash bags.
Authorities confirmed the remains belonged to Keylin Chavez Dominguez. The autopsy revealed she had been strangled and beaten, according to the medical examiner.
Details From the Police Investigation
As investigators intensified their search for the killer, Lara-Garcia attempted to flee the region. Detectives learned he may have been trying to leave the country for Honduras. The U.S. Marshals Service arrested him in Missouri on February 1, 2023.
During a post-Miranda interview, he admitted to killing the young woman.
According to police documents, the confrontation occurred on the night of December 30, 2022, when the pair were listening to music in their apartment. When Chavez Dominguez refused to change the playlist, Lara-Garcia became enraged and assaulted her.
“He knocked her down to the ground and straddled her, continuing to punch her and hit her head on the floor,” investigators wrote. “He then manually strangled her, and when he stopped, she was dead.”
Police say he then placed the body into two trash bags, put them in his car, and drove around searching for a disposal site. He eventually chose the Intercounty Connector bridge, where he threw her body over the side.
Shockingly, after discarding the body, Lara-Garcia drove to Philadelphia to celebrate New Year’s Eve, behaving as though nothing had happened.
Statements From Officials
State’s Attorney John McCarthy condemned the defendant’s actions and praised law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
“This defendant lied to police and Chavez Dominguez’s loved ones for nearly a month while they desperately kept hope alive that she may have been found unharmed,” McCarthy said. “We thank Montgomery County Police and the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in providing justice for the victim’s family.”
Conclusion
The sentencing brings closure to a case marked by jealousy, violence, and a month-long deception that deeply affected the victim’s family and community. Officials hope the outcome brings some measure of justice to those mourning the life of 20-year-old Keylin Chavez Dominguez.
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