Major crimes detectives crack gaithersburg murder case
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Major crimes detectives crack Gaithersburg murder case

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February 10, 2026
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Arrest made in cold case Seneca Creek homicide

Gaithersburg, MD – Nearly three years after a body was found in Seneca Creek, a homicide investigation reached a turning point as major crimes detectives arrested a suspect now charged with first-degree murder.

Montgomery County Police announced that a 22-year-old suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the July 9, 2023 death of a Gaithersburg man whose body was discovered in the creek near Black Rock Road and the Seneca Creek Trail in Germantown. Tips from the public later identified the victim as 45-year-old Jose Israel Centeno Velasquez of Gaithersburg.

Officers from the Montgomery County Police 1st District and Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to the scene after receiving a report of a body in the water. The victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where investigators determined he died from multiple injuries and ruled the death a homicide.

Detectives with the Montgomery County Police Department Major Crimes Division led the investigation and identified Franklin Villalobos Gomez as a suspect. An arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder was obtained on February 8.

Villalobos Gomez was taken into custody the following day by the Montgomery County Police Criminal Street Gang Unit. He is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit pending a bond hearing scheduled for February 10.

Key Points

  • A suspect has been arrested in the July 2023 Seneca Creek homicide
  • The victim was identified as 45-year-old Jose Israel Centeno Velasquez of Gaithersburg
  • The suspect faces a first-degree murder charge and is awaiting a bond hearing
Chris Quigley

Chris Quigley

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

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