Montgomery County police have charged a 27-year-old California man, Mauricio Martinez Garcia, with multiple counts of rape, kidnapping, and assault following an investigation into sexual assaults that occurred in Gaithersburg and Prince George’s County.
Martinez Garcia, identified through DNA evidence and later arrested in California, is also linked to an additional case there and is awaiting extradition to Maryland as detectives continue to seek information from potential additional victims.
According to MCPD, “On December 18, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., the adult female victim was at a restaurant in the 16100 block of Shady Grove Road. The victim ordered food and consumed a drink at the bar, and while waiting for her order, an unknown male began talking to her and insisted on paying for her tab. The victim allowed him to do so and then went to her table.
The woman reported she did not finish her food or drink and didn’t feel well. She left the restaurant and attempted to drive home. While driving, she was involved in a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Sam Eig and Great Seneca Highways. The victim stated that an unknown male arrived at the location and offered her help. The male, later identified as Martinez-Garcia, led her to his car and drove her away from the crash scene against the victim’s will. He drove her to his apartment, where he forcibly raped her. The suspect later drove the victim to her home, where she was raped again.
On December 20, 2024, the victim went to a local hospital and underwent a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE). Evidence was collected, and detectives later gathered additional evidence from the victim’s apartment.
Through the investigation, SVID detectives identified a suspect, later confirmed as Mauricio Martinez-Garcia. On December 5, 2025, detectives received a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) notification. A secondary analysis of evidence resulted in a DNA profile that matched Martinez-Garcia. The known DNA sample had been previously collected during an investigation conducted by the Department of the Army.
On Tuesday, December 9, Martinez-Garcia was taken into custody without incident at his residence in Madera, CA by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. During the investigation, detectives determined Martinez-Garcia is also connected to a sexual assault that occurred in Los Banos, CA. Madera County detectives assisted in linking Martinez-Garcia to that additional case. Martinez-Garcia is currently being held in Madera County while awaiting extradition to Maryland.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims and encourage anyone with information to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400.”
A mugshot for the suspect has not been released.
