A Virginia man is in police custody after allegedly strangling his baby sister. Alvaro Mejia Ayala is being being held in jail as the investigation continues. After the incident, the man ran, causing police to spend several hours searching for him before he was found and arrested. As of right now, his infant sister has survived the strangling but remains hospitalized. Even though he is already facing charges, there’s a chance others could be added as police learn more about the incident.
Just after 10 a.m. on September 17, 2025, Leesburg police officers were called to a home for an infant who wasn’t breathing, the deparment shared in a news release on social media. The infant was taken by ambulance to the hospital in critical condition. Upon further investigation, police discovered the baby had been assaulted.
According to police, the suspect left on foot before they arrived. Leesburg officers worked alongside the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office to find the suspect. About 3:15 that same afternoon, Mejia Ayala, 21, was apprehended.
He has been charged with strangulation, but because the investigation is still active, additional charges can be filed.
Court documents obtained by FOX 8 gave more details about the case and arrest. According to the documents, the man is the older brother of the infant he is accused of strangling. After he left the home, Mejia Ayala allegedly called a friend for a ride. He also allegedly told his friend he was “playing with his sister and may have killed her.”
FOX 8 reported that the infant, who has not been publicly named or had an age provided, is still in critical condition. Although the brother has been charged with felony strangulation, anything related to other charges depends on the infant.
“The biggest single variable in the incident is whether the child dies,” criminal defense attorney Jeremy Rosenthal, told the news outlet. Rosenthal is not involved with this specific case, but as a former prosecutor, he has insight into it.
“If the child dies, then this is a capital case,” Rosenthal explained. He added that if the infant lives, the felony strangulation charge could land Mejia Ayala in prison for up to five years.
Currently, Mejia Ayala is being held without bond. His next court appearance is set for mid-November, per FOX 8.
