A man wanted for questioning in the mysterious death of Sintia Mesa ? who was found in the truck of her car ? turned himself into authorities Thursday.
Jermarl Jones, 32, walked into U.S. District Court in Baltimore at 2:30 p.m. and was placed in handcuffs, said Donald Donovan, chief deputy U.S. marshal.
“Mr. Jones surrendered to us today on the drug charge,” Donovan said. “He is also sought for questioning in Mesa?s death. The homicide investigators have a keen interest in talking to him about the homicide.”
Jones is detained pending a hearing scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m. in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Gauvey. He is charged with possessing two kilograms of heroin worth about $200,000. Authorities say Jones has used four different Social Security numbers.
Mesa, 25, of Hyattsville, went missing in Baltimore County during the weekend, causing detectives to launch a regional search.
Federal authorities had been tracking Mesa, because of her affiliation with Jones, but had stopped following her movements after they arrested Jones on Jan. 3, Donovan said. A judge released Jones from federal custody two days later.
Baltimore County police said Mesa had a nail appointment in Randallstown on Friday and failed to meet with a group that evening as expected.
A person called police after seeing her silver Toyota Solara backed into a parking space in the Brook Crest Way complex on Monday.
Mesa?s sister took her search to the media during the weekend, and friends posted Sintia Mesa?s photo on MySpace page, appealing for her safe return. Investigators found Mesa?s cell phone and other personal items Sunday morning in Baltimore County.
Friends of Mesa have begun culling funds in order to raise a reward for anyone who provides information about the killing.
“I don?t want her to be forgotten,” said Vernon Carter, 24, Mesa?s friend. “It?s still kind of hard to wrap myself around this whole situation.”
Mesa?s funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Takoma Park.
