On February 25, 2023, family members of 15-year-old Limber Lopez Funez contacted the Frederick Police Department to report him as missing. The teenager was entered as a missing person and detectives with the Major Crimes Unit were assigned to locate Lopez Funez that same day. In the early morning hours of February 26, while conducting a search for the missing teenager in the wooded area near Orchard Way, detectives discovered a crime scene that indicated a serious assault had occurred there. The scene was processed, and detectives continued their investigation to find Lopez Funez.
During the investigation, detectives developed information that Lopez Funez may have been in the area of Gambrill State Park. Multiple searches were executed by detectives and on April 24, during one of the searches in the Gambrill State Park area, human remains were located and confirmed to be those of the missing teenager, Limber Lopez Funez.
"Since Mr. Lopez Funez was first reported missing back in late February, we have had officers and detectives working tirelessly, investigating this case," said Chief of Police, Jason Lando. "Our team spent countless hours following leads and conducting searches all over the county. We were all hoping to find Limber alive and well, but sadly that did not happen."
Detectives continued to investigate the case and were able to develop and collect digital, video, and forensic evidence that led to the identities of the five suspects in the murder of Limber Lopez Funez. Arrest warrants were issued for the suspects and on May 26, 2023, the Frederick Police Department, FBI Cross Borders Task Forces C-8, C-12, WFO CR-7, and the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force executed several search and seizure warrants to apprehend the suspects. All five of the below suspects have been charged with 1st-degree murder in this case.
· Alexis Alfredo Ayala Lopez (DOB: 09-20-2001)
· Jose Roberto Ramos Lopez (DOB: 02-24-2000)
· Ismael Lopez Lopez (DOB: 06-06-1993)
· Elmer Bladimir Reyes Reyes (DOB: 06-01-1995)
· Ismael Ivan Rivera Canales (DOB: 12-14-2002)
Chief Lando added, "On behalf of the entire team at FPD, our hearts go out to the victim's family. While we know it will not bring Limber back, we hope the arrests in this case will offer some closure to the Lopez Funez family."
This case is still actively being investigated and additional details are not being released at this time. The Frederick Police Department is urging anyone who may have information related to this case to contact Detective Yackovich at 240-549-4450 or kyackovich@FrederickMDPolice.org.
FPD also encourages individuals who wish to provide information anonymously to contact the Frederick Police Department's tip line at 301-600-TIPS (8477), submit information via email to fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org, or send a text message to 240-674-TIPS (8477). The City of Frederick is a participating jurisdiction with Metro Crime Stoppers (MCS) of Maryland. Submitting a tip through MCS is anonymous, and if the information leads to an arrest or criminal charges, the tipster receives a cash reward. See http://metrocrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/ for more information.
Case #: 2023-015872
Date: 5/31/23
Incident Type: 1st-Degree Murder
Lead Investigator: Det. Yackovich
Author of Release: D/Sgt. Jonathan Shatlock
PIO Contact: Samantha Long- slong@frederickmdpolice.org or 240-586-0462