Jefferson Amaya-Ayala, a 14-year-old from Washington, D.C., has been identified as the young person whose remains were discovered in College Park — a finding that has turned a months-long missing-person search into a homicide investigation.
The grisly discovery came on November 3, when a joint search by the Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County police and the FBI Cross Border Task Force found what appeared to be human remains in Indian Creek Stream Valley Park. The remains were later sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which has ruled the death a homicide; authorities have not publicly released the specific manner of death as investigators continue to probe the case.
Jefferson had been reported missing in early August. Law enforcement sources say he was last seen in the 1400 block of Sheridan Street NW in D.C. on August 2, and his disappearance triggered searches and alerts that stretched across jurisdictions — a grim reminder of how quickly a missing-person case can evolve into something far darker.
Neighbors and community members have been left reeling, many asking the same question: how did a boy last seen in northwest D.C. end up in a park miles away in Prince George’s County? Local residents described a stunned disbelief — parents locking doors more tightly, teenagers whispering about safety — while police officials have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Investigators say they are working to identify a suspect or suspects and determine a motive, but as of the latest updates there are no public arrests and no motive has been released. Detectives with the Prince George’s County Homicide Unit are coordinating evidence, reviewing tips, and following leads that cross municipal lines, an often complicated process when multiple agencies and jurisdictions are involved.
For families in both D.C. and surrounding Maryland communities, the case underscores the anxiety that comes with an unresolved disappearance. Advocates for missing children pointed to the months between Jefferson’s disappearance and the discovery in November as a painful stretch for loved ones and a critical window for investigative work; officials say that coordination between the MPD, Prince George’s detectives and federal partners was essential to locating the remains.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen Jefferson after August 2 or who witnessed suspicious activity near Indian Creek Stream Valley Park around early November to contact Crime Solvers or the Prince George’s County homicide tip line. Investigators emphasized that even small details — a car seen in the area, a conversation overheard, a social media post — could help piece together Jefferson’s last days.
Jefferson’s name now joins a tragic list of teens whose disappearances end in devastation. As the community searches for answers, officials say the priority remains clear: find who is responsible, deliver justice, and give Jefferson’s family the facts they deserve. The homicide investigation is active and ongoing, and authorities have promised to release more information as it becomes available.
