Darwin David Espinal del Cid, 27, has been arrested in Honduras. He is accused of killing Maria Bernarda Popol Garcia in Telford, Pennsylvania, United States.
Both Espinal and Popol were Honduran nationals who were in the U.S. without legal immigration status. He was her boyfriend.
Maria Popol
Popol is Rolando Popol’s sister. In 2023, she immigrated from Guatemala to the U.S. to work and help support her sick parents.
While sharing an apartment with Espinal on North Main Street in Telford, Maria worked as a server at Don Leo Restaurant and Grocery in Telford. On March 14, 2025, she turned 22.
Taking steps to separate from Espinal, Maria was moving into a new apartment on March 6, 2026, the same the day she last spoke to her family. Shortly before midnight on March 7, 2026, she was seen alive with him in a rideshare.
According to prosecutors, Maria told Espinal she wanted to break up with him, which led to an argument. After she stopped responding to her family and failed to show up for a gathering, her relatives filed a missing-person report with police in New Jersey, USA.
On March 15, 2026, Maria was found dead inside the apartment. Her death was ruled a homicide resulting from an edged cutting weapon.
Darwin Espinal
Espinal is accused of cutting Maria’s throat with a sharp of edged weapon, wrapping her body in a blanket and hiding it inside a bedroom closet. He had no known criminal record before the killing, according to authorities.
Before fleeing, Espinal allegedly took her cellphone and about $400 in cash. In an attempt to make others believe she was still alive, he allegedly used her phone to impersonate her in text messages.
On March 9, 2026, Espinal left the U.S. after buying a one-way ticket to Honduras. After remaining inside the closet for nine days, Maria’s body was discovered by another resident of the building.
On August 17, 2026, authorities announced the arrest of Espinal in Pespire, Choluteca, Honduras during a coordinated operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the U.S. and the Agencia Técnica de Investigación Criminal (ATIC) of Honduras. He was charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, possession of an instrument of crime, theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking.
Currently, Espinal is being held in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. He is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
From Pespire to Tegucigalpa
Pespire and Tegucigalpa represent two distinct facets of Honduras, stretching from the bustling highlands to the sun-drenched southern lowlands.
Resting in a mountain-fringed valley, Tegucigalpa is the country’s political and cultural capital. Established as a colonial mining center in the late sixteenth century, the city blends historic churches and narrow streets with modern commercial districts.
In contrast, Pespire is a historic municipality known for its picturesque colonial architecture, iconic suspension bridge, and thriving mango production. It offers a warm rural charm that beautifully contrasts the dynamic urban energy of the capital.
US-Honduras extradition treaty
The extradition relationship between the U.S. and Honduras has long served as a crucial instrument in combating transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and corruption. Historically rooted in a bilateral treaty originally signed in 1909, the framework allows both nations to request the surrender of fugitives wanted for serious offenses.
In recent years, the mechanism became a cornerstone for prosecuting high-profile Honduran politicians and cartel leaders in U.S. federal courts, most notably resulting in the high-profile extradition and conviction of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández.
Despite its vital role in law enforcement, the agreement has faced severe political friction. Diplomatic tensions peaked when the Honduran government briefly announced plans to terminate the pact following foreign policy disputes. However, both countries quickly moved to deescalate, successfully reaching an agreement to maintain the historic treaty.
Ultimately, the U.S.–Honduras extradition treaty remains an indispensable, albeit politically sensitive, legal bridge ensuring judicial accountability across borders.
CONAN Daily 