Girlfriend Is Found Hidden in a Closet After an Alleged Breakup Attack in Pennsylvania. Then He Posed As Her While Trying To Flee
Planned horror.
A man accused of slashing his girlfriend’s throat after she tried to break up with him, hiding her body in a closet, and then impersonating her in text messages to cover his tracks has been arrested in Honduras. According to PEOPLE, Darwin David Espinal-Del-Cid, 27, was taken into custody early Monday in Pespire, Honduras, following a joint operation between Honduran authorities and the FBI.
He’s now awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania, where he faces charges including criminal homicide, theft, and abuse of a corpse in the death of 22-year-old Maria Bernarda Popol Garcia. The case took another dark turn when prosecutors revealed Espinal-Del-Cid allegedly used Popol Garcia’s phone to send messages pretending to be her after the attack.
The deception was part of a calculated effort to delay the discovery of her death while he secured funds to flee the country. By the time her body was found – stuffed in a closet, wrapped in a blanket, and covered with clothes – Espinal-Del-Cid had already boarded a one-way flight to Honduras.
Many remember Maria Bernarda Popol Garcia as a kind, gentle person
Popol Garcia, who had moved to the U.S. from Guatemala for a fresh start, worked as a server at a Latin American restaurant and grocery in Telford, Pennsylvania. Friends and coworkers remembered her as a kind, gentle person with a bright spirit. But in the days leading up to her death, she had been planning to leave Espinal-Del-Cid.
On March 6, she told a coworker she was moving out and began taking her belongings to a new apartment. That same night, the couple got into a heated argument in a rideshare, where she reportedly told him she was ending the relationship. They returned to their shared apartment, where prosecutors say Espinal-Del-Cid attacked her with a sharp object, slashing her throat before hiding her body in a closet.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud fight from the apartment in the early hours of March 7, the last time Popol Garcia was seen alive. Espinal-Del-Cid allegedly took her phone and $400 in cash before disappearing. Over the next few days, he sent text messages from her phone, attempting to impersonate her and making it seem like she was still alive. Meanwhile, he bought a one-way ticket to Honduras and left the U.S. on March 9.
Her family reported her missing almost a week after her death
It wasn’t until March 13 – nearly a week after her death – that Popol Garcia’s family reported her missing. They told police in Palisades Park, New Jersey, that she lived with Espinal-Del-Cid in Telford. When officers went to the apartment, no one answered. The next day, they returned and found her body concealed in the closet. An autopsy later confirmed she died from injuries caused by an edged weapon, ruling her death a homicide.
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan called the case a sobering reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. “The tragic loss of a young woman on the threshold of her adult life is another sobering reminder of the often lethal nature of domestic violence,” he said in a statement.
“Our hearts break for Maria’s family and loved ones. Distance will not offer refuge to those who commit acts of violence in our community, and we remain relentless in our pursuit of justice for Maria,” Khan reiterated.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies
This included the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and local police departments across Bucks County. Khan praised the cooperation between U.S. and Honduran authorities, which led to Espinal-Del-Cid’s arrest. “This was a complex, international effort, and we’re grateful for the partnership that brought him to justice,” he said.
Popol Garcia would have turned 23 just one day before her body was discovered. Her death has left a void in the community, where she was known for her warmth and kindness. Meanwhile, Espinal-Del-Cid remains in custody in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, as authorities work to extradite him to Pennsylvania to face trial.
The case highlights the grim reality of domestic violence and the lengths some abusers will go to evade accountability. For now, Popol Garcia’s family is left to grieve while awaiting the legal process that may finally bring them some measure of justice. The Bucks County DA’s office has said that charges against Espinal-Del-Cid are still allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
(Featured images: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)
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