Maryland police made an announcement that they arrested an illegal immigrant teen and suspected MS-13 gang member in connection with the killing of an autistic 20-year-old woman over the summer.
Tammy Nobles, the mother of the victim Kayla Hamilton, expressed her shock to WMAR-TV in Baltimore, saying, “When I found out that it was a juvenile, I was shocked. I was like, ‘A juvenile did this to her?’ Like I was really shocked. I could not believe a teenager could do this.”
The suspect, a 17-year-old El Salvador native, was taken in by Aberdeen PD last Sunday in Edgewood, about 10 miles south of Aberdeen.
His DNA was compared to evidence from the crime scene, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the death of Hamilton was a homicide by strangulation. He is now being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center and is facing charges of first degree murder, sexual assault, and robbery.
Nobles said, “I’m her mother, I’m supposed to be there to protect her, but you can’t protect your kids when they’re adults. But, I just feel responsible. I was supposed to keep her safe.”
Lieutenant C. William Reiber noted that local police worked to make the arrest meaningful for Hamilton and her family, remarking, “It meant something to be a part of it, I can tell you it meant a lot to me and our team here in Aberdeen.”
The DOJ has labeled MS-13 as one of the largest and most dangerous street gangs in the United States. They operate in a number of areas in Maryland such as Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County. As well as other cities and states throughout the United States.