Press Releases

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 20, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged 22-year-old Gerber Luis Sanchez Centeno with the Wednesday, September 18, 2024 murder of 18-year-old Dania Cruz-Mejia, of Montgomery Village, in the 18600 block of Calypso Place in Montgomery Village.

The investigation has revealed that D. Cruz-Mejia’s family members entered her residence on Calypso Place after not knowing her whereabouts and found her unconscious.

At approximately 4:20 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the location and attempted life-saving measures on Cruz-Mejia, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The decedent was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, where an autopsy will be conducted to officially determine the cause and manner of death.

During the course of the investigation, detectives identified Cruz-Mejia’s boyfriend, Sanchez Centeno, as the suspect.

On Thursday, September 19, detectives obtained an arrest warrant against Sanchez Centeno, charging him with first-degree murder.

On Friday, September 20, detectives arrested Sanchez Centeno in Prince George’s County and transported him to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he is being held without bond.

Gerber Luis Sanchez Centeno