UPDATE (8:23 p.m. Friday): Blanco-Garcia is in the country illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE placed a detainer on the murder suspect, allowing the ICE to take custody of Blanco-Garcia if he is released by local law enforcement.
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ORIGINAL (11:30 a.m. Friday): The Falls Church man arrested in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Vanessa Pham will face second degree murder charges, according to court records posted after an arraignment Friday morning.
Julio Miguel Blanco-Garcia, 27, was arrested and charged last night with Pham's murder. Fairfax County Police and U.S. Marshalls took Blanco-Garcia into custody Thursday at the Vienna construction site where he worked.
Acting Chief Lt. Col. James A. Morris said in a briefing Thursday night Blanco-Garcia would be charged with murder.
After appearing in court at 8:30 a.m. Friday, court records show Blanco-Garcia facing charges of second degree murder.
In Virginia, first degree murder charges tend to imply a murder was committed by "lying in wait, imprisonment," or by "any willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing," according to the state code.
Second degree murder doesn't imply a specific intent to kill. It carries a prison sentence of between five and 40 years.
Fairfax County Circuit Court records show Blanco-Garcia has a short history of less serious offenses, largely misdemeanors:
- Public swearing/intoxication, March 2010.
- Petit larceny, Sept. 2011.
- Concealment/Price alteration of merchandise, April 2012.
Blanco-Garcia is being kept in custody. The next step, attorney review, is scheduled for 9:20 a.m. Dec. 21. The preliminary trial isn't scheduled to begin until February.
Check Patch for more information as it becomes available.
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