News Releases

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Gaithersburg, MD - A Washington, DC man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 16-month-old son.

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, at approximately 4 a.m., Montgomery County Department of Police 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded to the 7900 block of Chicago Avenue in Silver Spring, for a child not breathing.

The child, Zavier Giron was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Montgomery County Major Crimes Detectives interviewed the child’s mother who stated that her son had not been feeling well and when she woke up at 4 a.m., she found the toddler not breathing, and 911 was called.

Zavier was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy was conducted and revealed signs of child abuse.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the mother’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Marlon Adilson Melendez had allegedly abused the child, causing serious injuries.

On Friday, May 19, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Melendez. He has been charged with first-degree child abuse and second-degree murder.

Melendez, who is not the child’s biological father, was arrested on Monday, May 22, in Hyattsville, by the US Marshals Capital Area Regional Task Force. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit without bond.