Woman in Video Sought as Potential Witness in Lopez Homicide Case

Gwinnett detectives are trying to identify a woman seen in a video at a restaurant with Darinel Martinez Lopez, a homicide victim whose body later was found in a wooded area near an apartment complex in unincorporated Duluth 

Detectives have narrowed the time that Lopez, 26, of Duluth was unaccounted for from 27 hours to about 19 hours.

He was spotted on security video at a restaurant located at the intersection of Satellite Boulevard and West Liddell Road in unincorporated Duluth, according to an update issued Aug. 7 by Gwinnett Police. In the video, Martinez was briefly seen in proximity to a woman at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27.

Lopez’ body was discovered by a pedestrian about 3 p.m. Sunday, July 28, in a wooded area at the Bella Vista Apartments at 4015 Satellite Blvd. in unincorporated Duluth.

Lopez lived with his mother and siblings at The Falls Apartments, 3925 Satellite Blvd., which is adjacent to the complex where his body was found. He was last seen by his family at noon Saturday.

An autopsy determined his cause of death to be blunt force trauma.  

Detectives would like to speak to the woman as a potential witness in the case. She was driving a black vehicle (possibly an SUV) and may have been experiencing car trouble. A still photo from the security video is attached. Anyone with information on the identity of this person is asked to contact detectives at 770-513-5300.