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A Muslim teen was killed after leaving a mosque with friends

It’s believed the woman had been participating in a sleepover in the religious centre.
It’s believed the woman had been participating in a sleepover in the religious centre. It’s believed the woman had been participating in a sleepover in the religious centre.

A man has been charged with the murder of a Muslim teenager who was assaulted and killed after leaving a Virginia mosque with friends.

The 17-year-old disappeared overnight and was reported missing in the early hours of Sunday, prompting authorities to launch an extensive search for the teen, Fairfax County Police Department reports.

Police determined the young woman had been walking in the Sterling area with a group of friends when they got into a dispute with a man in a car. The suspect then got out of his car and assaulted the victim, after which her friends could not find her and called authorities.

Fairfax County Police DepartmentDetectives search for missing teenager in Dranesville Rd/Woodson Rd, Herndon area; remains of a female later found nearby, medical examiner will confirm identity

The remains of a female were found the following afternoon in a nearby pond by the search and rescue team – which included helicopters and police dogs – although the cause of death has not yet been determined. While the body has not been formally identified, authorities believe it is that of the teen victim.

While on the search, police spotted a car driving suspiciously in the area and pulled it over. The driver – a 22-year-old man, Darwin Martinez Torres – was taken into custody and subsequently charged for the murder of the young woman.

The All Dulles Area Muslim Society confirmed the teen was affiliated with the centre, and said in a statement: “We are devastated and heartbroken as our community undergoes and processes this traumatic event. It is a time for us to come together to pray and care for our youth.”