Maryland Man Strangled Ex-Girlfriend Over Music Playlist, Stuffed Her in Trash Bags, and Threw Her Off a Bridge Before Partying in Philadelphia
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND — A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to decades in prison after police say he strangled his ex-girlfriend during an argument over a music playlist, stuffed her body into trash bags, and tossed her off a highway bridge before driving to Philadelphia to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Argument Over a Music Playlist Turned Deadly, Prosecutors Say
According to court records, Francisco Lara-Garcia killed 20-year-old Keylin Chavez Dominguez on Dec. 30, 2022, inside the Rockville apartment they still shared even after breaking up.
Investigators say the two were listening to music when Lara-Garcia demanded to change the playlist. She refused — triggering a violent outburst.
Police wrote in the affidavit:
“He knocked her down to the ground and straddled her, continuing to punch her and hit her head on the floor. He then manually strangled her.”
When he stopped, she was dead.
An autopsy later showed Chavez Dominguez suffered blunt-force trauma and manual strangulation.
Killer Bagged Her Body and Threw It Off the Intercounty Connector Bridge
After killing her, Lara-Garcia stuffed her body into two trash bags, placed them in his car, and drove around looking for a dumping spot.
He eventually stopped on the Intercounty Connector (ICC) between New Hampshire Avenue and Columbia Pike in Silver Spring. There, he threw her body off the bridge.
On Jan. 28, 2023 — nearly a month later — a man walking his dog discovered the remains partially hidden under trash bags.
The discovery shattered the hopes of the victim’s family, who had spent weeks believing she might still be alive.
He Celebrated New Year’s in Philadelphia — Then Reported Her Missing
What shocked investigators even further was what Lara-Garcia did immediately after discarding her body.
He drove to Philadelphia to ring in the New Year, then returned to Maryland and pretended to be concerned when the victim’s family questioned her whereabouts.
He even filed a missing persons report on Jan. 2, despite knowing exactly what had happened.
But detectives quickly noticed glaring inconsistencies in his story.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said:
“This defendant lied to police and to the victim’s family for nearly a month while they desperately hoped she might be found unharmed.”
Arrested While Trying to Flee the Country
Detectives discovered evidence that Lara-Garcia was preparing to flee to Honduras, raising fears he would escape prosecution.
The U.S. Marshals Service tracked him to Missouri and arrested him on Feb. 1, 2023.
After being read his Miranda rights, he confessed to the murder and explained the fight over the playlist that preceded the killing.
Sentenced to Life With All but 40 Years Suspended
Lara-Garcia pleaded guilty in March to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended, meaning he will serve at least four decades behind bars.
Prosecutors say the sentence brings long-awaited justice to the family of Chavez Dominguez — a young woman whose life was cut short over an argument that never should have turned violent.
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