Telford Man Arrested in Honduras for March Stabbing Death of His Girlfriend; Know How He Hid the Murder

An international manhunt for a Telford man wanted in the 2026 stabbing death of his 23-year-old girlfriend has ended with his arrest in Honduras. Darwin David Espinal-Del Cid, 27, was taken into custody early Monday, August 17, in Pespire, Honduras, following a coordinated operation involving the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and Honduran authorities.

Arrest Follows Months-Long Manhunt

Espinal-Del Cid is currently being held in Tegucigalpa pending extradition to Bucks County. He faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide, possession of an instrument of crime, theft, and abuse of a corpse. US: Indian-Origin Teen Charged With Killing Mother and Brother in Massachusetts.

"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," Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said in a statement. "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," he added.

Investigation into the Death of Maria Bernarda Popol Garcia

The victim, Maria Bernarda Popol Garcia, was reported missing on March 13, after family members had not heard from her for a week. Telford Borough police discovered her body the following day, concealed inside a bedroom closet in the residence she shared with the suspect. An autopsy confirmed that Popol Garcia died of a homicide caused by an "edged cutting weapon". Investigators allege that Espinal-Del Cid killed the victim, moved her body, and stole her cell phone and cash before fleeing the country on March 9.

Evidence gathered during the investigation suggested that Popol Garcia had been making efforts to leave the relationship. Neighbours reported a loud argument in the apartment during the early hours of March 7, the last time she was known to be alive. Following her death, authorities allege Espinal-Del Cid posed as the victim via text messages to create the illusion that she was still alive while he secured funds for his flight. US: Gujarat Man Charged With Killing Estranged Wife in Chicago Months After ‘Suicide’ Video.

Global Cooperation

The arrest was made possible through the collaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Technical Agency for Criminal Investigation (ATIC) in Honduras, alongside various local Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies. While Espinal-Del Cid awaits extradition, the District Attorney’s Office emphasised that all criminal charges are allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2026 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).