Homicide Defendant Extradited From El Salvador and Held at DC Jail

By Rebecca Connor [former] - June 14, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Documents | Domestic Violence | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On June 14, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe ordered that a defendant in a 2014 homicide case be held at the DC Jail pending trial. 

Marvin Lopez, 43, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing 27-year-old Evelyn Arroyo on Dec. 24, 2014. Lopez was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 16, 2016.

Following his alleged involvement in the murder of Arroyo, the defendant fled the country, leaving his passport and belongings behind. Authorities had reason to believe he fled to El Salvador, and negotiations began between El Salvador and the United States in order to begin the extradition process. 

As part of the negotiations, prosecutors in DC agreed not to seek the death penalty, even though the District has banned capital punishment.

The extradition warrant was issued in El Salvador on Nov. 26, 2019. Authorities then began searching for Lopez in El Salvador, and he was ultimately arrested there on Mar. 12, 2021.

Lopez arrived in the United States on Mar. 30, 2023, and was presented to the court on March 31. He has been held in DC Jail since his arrival in the U.S.

The prosecution argued Lopez should continue to be held as he had previously demonstrated the ability to flee the country without a passport and that family ties in El Salvador might encourage him to abscond again.

They also stated that if he were to be released, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would likely deport him back to El Salvador, making future court appearances impractical. 

The prosecutor said that due to the defendant’s unique set of circumstances, not “even the most stringent of creative combinations” of release conditions could guarantee his return to court. 

However, defense attorney Rachel McCoy argued that case law indicates ICE is often willing to delay deportation in such cases, and that Lopez also had family connections in the greater DC area that could allow him to be released on home confinement.

McCoy also presented court records showing that Arroyo, who had been romantically involved with Lopez, had attacked Lopez on several occasions. In one of these incidents, Lopez was allegedly forced into hiding in the bathroom after Arroyo began swinging at him with a kitchen knife. 

The prosecution then referred to several other alleged incidents indicating that both the suspect and the victim had attacked each other on several occasions both verbally and physically. 

According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) records, on one of these occasions Lopez said “If you break up with me, I will kill you.” Arroyo allegedly expressed a desire to break up with the defendant about a week before her murder. 

Lopez needed a Spanish interpreter throughout the hearing. 

Due to the defendant’s possible flight risk, the violent nature of the crime, and Lopez’s relationship with the victim, Judge O’Keefe ordered that Lopez continue to be held at DC Jail awaiting further procedures.

Trial is set to begin on Oct. 30, and Lopez will next appear before Judge O’Keefe on June 28.