Maria Sebastian Juan was 27 when she was found dead in a residential area of Birmingham, Alabama, on September 20, 2024. Authorities determined her death was a homicide. Investigators say the killing was not random and that Maria had been involved in a tumultuous relationship with a person believed to have been with her shortly before her death; police described prior reports of domestic disputes between the couple.

Detectives gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses, identified a suspect, and carried out a manhunt that ended with that individual’s arrest. The suspect’s name has been withheld while legal proceedings are ongoing, and prosecutors have charged the person with murder. Local domestic violence groups have renewed outreach in the wake of Maria’s killing.

If anyone who knew Maria or who has information about her relationship or the events around September 20, 2024 can help, please come forward to investigators.