Man suspected of strangling, killing girlfriend in Howard County arrested in Texas

A man suspected of strangling and killing his girlfriend over the weekend in Howard County was arrested in Texas on Monday.

According to police, Darwin Carcamo-Santiago, 24, is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder in the killing of Esmeralda Perez-Mendez, 35, of Takoma Park.

Police responded to a residence in the 9000 block of Watchlight Court in Columbia on Sunday afternoon, after receiving a call from a housemate stating that Perez-Mendez was found dead in a bedroom of the home. It was later determined Carcamo-Santiago lived in that home. 

The victim suffered injuries consistent with being strangled, police said. They believe Perez-Mendez was killed in the overnight hours of July 25-26.

Police said Carcamo-Santiago was believed to have fled the area. 

Anyone who has any information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov. 

Neighbor said she spoke with the suspect

Elizabeth Chestnut, a neighbor, said she talked to the murder suspect a day before Esmeralda Perez-Mendez was found dead.

Chestnut said she was shocked when she learned of the incident, and even more shocked when she found out who the suspect was.

She said the couple always said hi, and that Carcamo-Santiago seemed to be a nice guy.

"I was like, 'Wow,' kind of like, can't believe it, but it happened," Chestnut said.

Chestnut, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, said she was stunned to hear that Carcamo-Santiago is wanted for murder.

"I talked to him the day before," Chestnut said. "He's got a vehicle just like mine, and he was very polite and very respectful. To think that I talked to maybe a possible murderer, I hate to put it that way, but yeah."

Chestnut said four or five men rent the home, and all work in a restaurant owned by the landlord.

She questions how no one noticed anything was wrong.

"They all came home Saturday night and went to work Sunday morning like nothing happened," Chestnut said. "So that's a little disturbing that something happened with all those people living in close quarters and nobody heard anything."