This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/a-va-teen-was-charged-in-a-young-couples-killings-but-their-deaths-remain-a-mystery/2020/02/14/62c71c94-4f6c-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
A Va. teen was charged in a young couple’s killings, but their deaths remain a mystery A Va. 18-year-old was charged in a young couple’s killings, but their deaths remain a mystery
(about 7 hours later)
The plan was simple: Ayanna Maertens Griffin and her boyfriend, Joel Bianda, were to drive to Danville, Va., on Feb. 8, pick up a friend and return to the D.C. area the next day, her father said. But something went horribly amiss along the way.The plan was simple: Ayanna Maertens Griffin and her boyfriend, Joel Bianda, were to drive to Danville, Va., on Feb. 8, pick up a friend and return to the D.C. area the next day, her father said. But something went horribly amiss along the way.
The two were found dead in the grassy median of a rural stretch of highway in the early hours that Saturday in Halifax County, about 30 minutes from their intended destination. Their car was nearby.The two were found dead in the grassy median of a rural stretch of highway in the early hours that Saturday in Halifax County, about 30 minutes from their intended destination. Their car was nearby.
Man, woman from Washington area found slain in Halifax CountyMan, woman from Washington area found slain in Halifax County
George Ivan Maertens Aramayo said police have not told him why his daughter, 19, and Bianda, 21, were killed. He is not familiar with Mohamed Aly, the 18-year-old from Alexandria who is facing two first-degree murder charges. Aly attended T.C. Williams High School, where friends say he was a strong student and athlete hoping to play college football. George Ivan Maertens Aramayo said police have not told him why his daughter, 19, and Bianda, 21, were killed. He is not familiar with Mohamed Aly, the 18-year-old from Alexandria who is facing two first-degree murder charges. Aly attended T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, where friends say he was a strong student and athlete hoping to play college football.
Between the shootings and his arrest at school Thursday, Aly was broadcasting his skill as a cornerback and his workout routine, with no sign of any turmoil.Between the shootings and his arrest at school Thursday, Aly was broadcasting his skill as a cornerback and his workout routine, with no sign of any turmoil.
“Looking for a home to showcase my motivation, dedication, and appreciation to the game,” he wrote on Twitter.“Looking for a home to showcase my motivation, dedication, and appreciation to the game,” he wrote on Twitter.
Kennedy Ntiamoah, 20, played the same position as Aly for a rival high school. He said he was baffled by the arrest of the popular, self-possessed younger player, who got good grades and scores on standardized tests. He last saw Aly when he was home from college in December and they played an informal 7-on-7 game.Kennedy Ntiamoah, 20, played the same position as Aly for a rival high school. He said he was baffled by the arrest of the popular, self-possessed younger player, who got good grades and scores on standardized tests. He last saw Aly when he was home from college in December and they played an informal 7-on-7 game.
“If he needed help or anything he would always reach out. I trained with this dude, I know of him,” Ntiamoah said. “He was always smiling, always happy. . . I wouldn’t expect him to pull a trigger and kill.” “If he needed help or anything, he would always reach out. I trained with this dude; I know of him,” Ntiamoah said. “He was always smiling, always happy. . . . I wouldn’t expect him to pull a trigger and kill.”
Alexandria high school student charged in double slayingAlexandria high school student charged in double slaying
James Longerbeam, who coached football at T.C. Williams for the past four years, referred all questions to a school spokeswoman, who declined to comment. But on Twitter, his wife, Alette Longerbeam, wrote that she was “really at a loss, really feeling lost. I can’t wrap my head around this.” She had previously described Aly as akin to a son.James Longerbeam, who coached football at T.C. Williams for the past four years, referred all questions to a school spokeswoman, who declined to comment. But on Twitter, his wife, Alette Longerbeam, wrote that she was “really at a loss, really feeling lost. I can’t wrap my head around this.” She had previously described Aly as akin to a son.
Kyla Janay, 16, a fellow student, described Aly as “a good spirit, a good soul . . . he was a person to light up the room with his smile.” Kyla Janay, 16, a fellow student, described Aly in a text message as “a good spirit, a good soul . . . he was a person to light up the room with his smile.”
She said, “This all just doesn’t make sense Mohamed is not this person.”She said, “This all just doesn’t make sense Mohamed is not this person.”
The killing remains a mystery to Maertens Aramayo as well. He said he spoke with his daughter a few days before she was killed.The killing remains a mystery to Maertens Aramayo as well. He said he spoke with his daughter a few days before she was killed.
“She had passed her learner’s permit,” Maertens Aramayo said on Friday. “There it was in the mailbox . . . . It might be the last picture taken of her.” “She had passed her learner’s permit,” Maertens Aramayo said on Friday. “There it was in the mailbox. . . . It might be the last picture taken of her.”
Maertens Griffin lived in Fairfax County and had dreamed of attending Va. Tech to study computer engineering. She worked at Jimmy John’s and was attending classes at Northern Virginia Community College. She and Bianda had dated for about a year, her father said. They both grew up in Germantown, Md., and went to Northwest High School, where Maertens Griffin did well enough to graduate at 16 and skip her senior year. Maertens Griffin lived in Fairfax County and had dreamed of attending Virginia Tech to study computer engineering. She worked at Jimmy John’s and was attending classes at Northern Virginia Community College. She and Bianda had dated for about a year, her father said. They both grew up in Germantown, Md., and went to Northwest High School, where Maertens Griffin did well enough to graduate at 16 and skip her senior year.
“That was my pride [that] my daughter was able to skip 12th grade,” Maertens Aramayo said.“That was my pride [that] my daughter was able to skip 12th grade,” Maertens Aramayo said.
Maertens Aramayo said police told him they had recovered Maertens Griffin’s and Bianda’s cellphones before Aly’s arrest on Thursday. Maertens Aramayo said police did not tell him where the phones were found and have provided few other details about the case. Maertens Aramayo said if Aly was involved, he wonders how the teen got back to the D.C. area. Maertens Aramayo said police told him they had recovered Maer­tens Griffin’s and Bianda’s cellphones before Aly’s arrest on Thursday. Maertens Aramayo said police did not tell him where the phones were found and have provided few other details about the case. Maertens Aramayo said if Aly was involved, he wonders how the teen got back to the D.C. area.
Aly’s family could not be reached and online court records did not yet list a lawyer. Aly’s family could not be reached, and online court records did not yet list a lawyer.
Bianda’s family has declined to comment.Bianda’s family has declined to comment.
Maertens Aramayo remembers his daughter as “bubbly.” He recalled when she was 10 a man had opened the door for them at a restaurant, so she gave him a hug. Maertens Aramayo remembers his daughter as “bubbly.” He recalled that when she was 10, a man had opened the door for them at a restaurant, so she gave him a hug.
“She would talk to people randomly,” Maertens Aramayo said. “She had an infectious smile.”“She would talk to people randomly,” Maertens Aramayo said. “She had an infectious smile.”
Tragedy struck at what should have been a moment of joy. Maertens Aramayo was scheduled to be remarried on Monday, but called off the wedding. Now, he is planning a funeral for his daughter. Tragedy struck at what should have been a moment of joy. Maer­tens Aramayo was scheduled to be remarried Monday but called off the wedding. Now, he is planning a funeral for his daughter.
Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.
Justice Dept. will not allow FBI to testify in Fairfax investigation of Bijan Ghaisar killingJustice Dept. will not allow FBI to testify in Fairfax investigation of Bijan Ghaisar killing
Man, 60, killed by bullet that pierced window frame of home in Southeast D.C.Man, 60, killed by bullet that pierced window frame of home in Southeast D.C.
D.C.’s new U.S. attorney Timothy Shea is in political firestorm overseeing cases involving Trump’s friends and foesD.C.’s new U.S. attorney Timothy Shea is in political firestorm overseeing cases involving Trump’s friends and foes
Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.)Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.)
Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local newsLike PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news