In October, Ermosinda Saravia obtained a protective order against her husband, writing in a petition that he drove her to “empty places” and said he would kill her.
A few months later, Daniel A. Mendoza appeared to want to make good on his threats.
He solicited someone to kill Saravia and one of her friends, even suggesting that the killer stage the slayings as robbery- or gang-related attacks, according to prosecutors and court documents.
Mendoza, 48, of Rockville, was arrested Tuesday after he met with an undercover police officer who was posing as a hit man willing to kill Saravia and one of her friends, Arturo Gamboa Yangali.
Montgomery County police said they began investigating Mendoza in February after learning that he had been trying to hire someone to kill the pair. When Detective Charles Bullock met with him, Mendoza “stated in explicit terms that he wanted his wife and her boyfriend murdered,” according to court documents.
On Tuesday, Mendoza pointed out his wife to the detective outside the Twinbrook Metro station and showed him the path Saravia took to the Metro station, the documents say.
Mendoza said Bullock should take her cell phone and purse to make the killing look like a robbery and should “make sure she was dead before he left her.” He suggested killing Yangali at night and making it look gang-related, court documents say.
Mendoza also allegedly told Bullock he would return to his native Honduras so he wouldn’t be a suspect. A pretrial services officer said in court Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had lodged a detainer against Mendoza, indicating he is suspected of being in the country illegally.
Prosecutor Debbie Feinstein confirmed the detainer but said she didn’t have further details.
Mendoza is charged with soliciting attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder.
Montgomery County District Court Judge Eugene Wolfe ordered Mendoza to remain held without bond Wednesday. A public defender will be appointed to represent him.
In her petition for a protective order, Saravia wrote that Mendoza had threatened to kill her, forced her to have sex and followed her to work. Mendoza was ordered to not contact her and vacate the home.
