A Fairfax County grand jury has indicted a Falls Church father on aggravated murder and felony child-abuse charges in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, officials said.
The grand-jury action, announced July 20, 2026, follows an investigation that began March 27, 2026, when the infant was found unresponsive at the family’s home. The defendant, 28-year-old Misael Lopez Gomez, is scheduled to go on trial beginning July 23, 2026.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced the indictment after his office asked a grand jury to return the aggravated-murder charge, as reported by DC News Now. Prosecutors say the upgraded count reflects evidence developed during the investigation and testimony presented at a preliminary hearing.
How police say the case unfolded
Fairfax County police say officers were called to an apartment in the 3400 block of Lake Street in Bailey’s Crossroads on March 27, 2026, for a report of an unresponsive infant. Emergency personnel tried life-saving measures before the baby was pronounced dead at a hospital.
A preliminary autopsy found injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma. Police initially arrested Gomez and charged him with second-degree murder and felony child abuse, according to FFXnow. Court records show the case then moved from preliminary proceedings to presentation before a grand jury.
Detective testimony and the grand jury
At a hearing, a Fairfax County detective testified that Gomez admitted repeatedly striking his daughter, according to local reporting. Prosecutors cited that testimony when they sought the aggravated-murder indictment.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office says it pursued the grand jury after investigators and medical personnel documented injuries they concluded were inconsistent with an accidental collapse or natural cause, as reported by DC News Now.
Legal stakes
Under Virginia law, the willful and deliberate killing of a child under 14 by someone age 21 or older is categorized as aggravated murder. That subsection can carry a mandatory life sentence. The statutory language and penalties are outlined in § 18.2-31 of the Code of Virginia.
What’s next
Gomez remains in Fairfax County custody and is set for trial beginning July 23, 2026. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office says it intends to move forward with a top-level prosecution on the aggravated-murder charge and the related felony child-abuse count.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Fairfax County detectives, a request noted in local coverage from Fox 5 DC, which also reported that an ICE detainer was lodged following the arrest.
.jpg){kind=link}