by Rockville, MD — A Maryland man has been sentenced to decades in prison for brutally strangling his ex-girlfriend, dumping her body off a highway bridge, celebrating New Year’s Eve hours later, and then reporting her missing in what authorities say was a calculated attempt to cover up the crime.
Relationship Turned Volatile Before the Killing
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, 33-year-old Francisco Lara-Garcia will serve 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Keylin Chavez Dominguez. Though originally sentenced to life, all but 40 years were suspended under the plea agreement.
The pair met and began dating in Honduras in 2021, later relocating to the United States and sharing an apartment in Rockville. Prosecutors say tension grew in the home after Chavez Dominguez began dating someone else in August 2022, while still living with Lara-Garcia. Jealousy became a persistent issue in the home and ultimately escalated to tragedy.
On the night of December 30, 2022, Chavez Dominguez texted her new boyfriend. When she did not reach out the following day, he grew concerned and contacted Lara-Garcia, who denied knowing her whereabouts.
A Missing Person Case Built on Lies
At the urging of her family, Lara-Garcia reported her missing on January 2, 2023. Detectives immediately noted issues with his account.
“His statements revealed inconsistencies and inaccuracies which indicated he was not being truthful,”
investigators wrote in the probable cause affidavit.
Family members, neighbors, and the victim’s boyfriend continued searching for her throughout January, unaware that her body had already been discarded miles away.
Body Discovered Under Intercounty Connector
On January 28, 2023, nearly a month after she was last heard from, a man walking his dog under the Intercounty Connector (MD-200) in Silver Spring discovered a body partially hidden in trash bags. The victim was later identified as Chavez Dominguez.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined she had been strangled and beaten, consistent with a violent attack inside the apartment she shared with Lara-Garcia.
Fearing he was preparing to flee the U.S., investigators worked quickly with the U.S. Marshals Service, who located him in Missouri on February 1, 2023.
Confession Reveals Disturbing Motive
After receiving his Miranda rights, Lara-Garcia confessed, describing a chilling chain of events that unfolded over something as minor as a music disagreement.
He told detectives that he and Chavez Dominguez were listening to music when he became upset that she refused to change the playlist. His anger abruptly escalated.
“He knocked her to the ground, straddled her, punched her repeatedly, and hit her head on the floor,”
police wrote. “He then manually strangled her, and when he stopped, she was dead.”
Prosecutors say he placed her body in two trash bags, loaded them into his car, and drove around searching for a disposal site. He ultimately threw her body off the ICC bridge between New Hampshire Avenue and Columbia Pike.
What he did next stunned law enforcement: he drove to Philadelphia to celebrate New Year’s Eve, acting as though nothing had happened.
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Nearly a Month of Deception
Prosecutors say Lara-Garcia continued to lie for weeks, telling police, family members, and the victim’s boyfriend that he had no idea where she was.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy condemned the deception:
“This defendant lied to police and to her loved ones for nearly a month while they desperately hoped she might be found unharmed,” McCarthy said. “We thank Montgomery County Police and the United States Marshals Service for providing justice for the victim’s family.”
Authorities believe Lara-Garcia may have been trying to escape to Honduras before he was captured.
Community Still Healing
The killing devastated the local Honduran community, friends, coworkers, and the victim’s relatives, who hoped for weeks that she might still be alive. Advocates have emphasized the importance of supporting young women experiencing domestic conflict, particularly those far from home with limited family support.
Chavez Dominguez’s family continues to grieve, describing her as hardworking, vibrant, and deeply loved.
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