Suspected MS-13 Members Charged with Murder of Man Found in Shallow Grave Near Frederick

Six alleged MS-13 gang members face charges in the death of a man whose body was found in a shallow grave north of Frederick in June.

Darwin Alberto Arias-Meijia, of Greenbelt, and Carlos Javier Hernandez Diaz, of Silver Spring, both 24, were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and participating in a criminal gang leading to the death of another person, according to a pair of indictments unsealed Tuesday in Frederick County Circuit Court.

A third man, 21-year-old Silver Spring resident Denis Aristides Rivas-Aldana, faced the same charges Tuesday and will likely have his indictment unsealed Wednesday in Frederick County, said Maj. Tim Clarke, a spokesman for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

Rivas-Aldana was arrested by Montgomery County police Sept. 6 in connection with two unrelated cases involving charges of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault, according to online court records. He has been held without bail in the Montgomery County Detention Center since then, the records state.

Of the three other men, two remained on the loose as of Tuesday and the sixth man was in custody in a jurisdiction outside Frederick County, but was not yet aware of the case being pursued against him in Frederick County as of Tuesday, Clarke said.

All six men were identified as working on behalf of MS-13 when, on or about April 2, they participated in the killing of 37-year-old Silver Spring resident Victor Antonio Turcios-Valle, according to Clarke and the indictments filed against Arias-Meijia and Diaz.

The indictments provided few details other than a few names and dates, and Clarke said he was not at liberty to discuss the case further when reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

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