What happened to Rosa Diaz-Santos? Remains of Maryland teen found two months after she went missing
GREENBELT, MARYLAND: After finding the remains of missing Maryland teen Rosa Diaz-Santos in Takoma Park, police in Prince George's County are asking for the public's help to find who killed her. Authorities revealed on Monday, November 21, that they are now searching for the person who killed the 17-year-old who went missing in September after discovering her remains in a forested area.
The body of the Greenbelt resident was discovered on November 15 around 12:30 pm close to the 1600 block of Drexel Street in Tacoma Park, according to the Prince George's County Police Department. West of Greenbelt, Tacoma Park is situated roughly 10 miles away, as reported by Fox News.
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Over the weekend, the medical examiner verified the victim's identity, and an autopsy determined that the cause of death was a homicide. No additional details regarding Diaz-Santos's death were immediately made public. According to the Greenbelt Police Department, the 17-year-old was last seen leaving Franklin Park in Greenbelt at roughly 7:40 am on September 22 to go to Eleanor Roosevelt High School. On October 11, Greenbelt police distributed a flier with details regarding the missing adolescent, as reported by Fox News.
Greenbelt police also tweeted about the missing teen and wrote, "MISSING JUVENILE: The Greenbelt Police Department's Criminal Investigative Unit is currently investigating a missing juvenile identified as 17-year-old Rosa Maria Diaz-Santos, last seen on 09/22/2022. If you see her, please call GPD AT 301-474-7200."
MISSING JUVENILE: The Greenbelt Police Department’s Criminal Investigative Unit is currently investigating a missing juvenile identified as 17-year-old Rosa Maria Diaz-Santos, last seen on 09/22/2022. If you see her, please call GPD AT 301-474-7200. pic.twitter.com/TKpBUIwFLa
— Greenbelt Police (@greenbeltpolice) October 11, 2022
Eleanor Roosevelt High School principal Dr Portia Barnes informed schpol families of the teen's death in a letter on Monday, according to FOX5 DC. The letter reads,
"It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of Rosa Santos-Diaz, a ninth-grade student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. For those of you who knew Rosa, we ask that you remember and celebrate her life. For those of you who did not know Rosa, we ask that you respect our sadness and support us with your understanding. It is very difficult for all of us to face the death of a young person. A support team of school psychologists, professional school counselors, and our pupil personnel worker, from Prince George's County Public Schools will join our staff to provide counseling and support to students. Counseling will continue to be available to students as long as necessary. We will provide the students with support; however, they may be coming home with questions and worries about this loss. Please feel free to contact me or one of our professional school counselors if you have any issues you would like to discuss."
Detectives are attempting to pinpoint a motive for the crime and identify any potential suspects. Anyone with information pertinent to the inquiry is urged to contact police at 301-516-2512, as reported by Fox 5 News.