Wilmington – The Delaware State Police have arrested 19-year-old Maria Alvarez-Rios of Wilmington in connection with a robbery that took place at a Hockessin area cemetery in early February, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at approximately 7:21 p.m., a 31-year-old male subject was in the parking lot of the Canby Park Shopping Center, located at 1900 Maryland Ave., when he was offered a ride. The victim entered a gray Nissan Altima, which was occupied by four other subjects, and then driven to Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, located in the 1500 block of Ashland Clinton School Road, in Hockessin. Once at the cemetery, the victim was ordered out of the vehicle and then assaulted and robbed by two of the occupants, Austin said.
Through further investigation detectives confirmed that the suspect vehicle was a 2011 Nissan Altima registered to Alvarez-Rios and that she was the driver at the time of the incident, according to Austin. On March 14, 2019, Alvarez-Rios was taken into custody after she exited her residence in the 1900 block of Bonwood Road in Wilmington.
Alvarez-Rios was transported to Troop 2 and charged with one count each of Robbery 1st Degree and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. She was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #2 and released on $6000.00 unsecured bail.
The remaining suspects have not been identified at this time however the investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective A. Tenebruso of the Troop 2 Robbery Unit by calling 302-365-8435.
Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.