Federal agents are seeking a Silver Spring man on charges that he raped a 12-year-old neighbor last year, then fled, leaving behind a successful life and a baby on the way. Ludin Mejia-Ramirez, 30, of Silver Spring, was once a well-respected plumber, but is now wanted by Montgomery County police and is being sought by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.
“What makes this a little more disturbing is that he was a well-thought-of working guy in the neighborhood,” said Matt Burke, supervisory inspector of the task force. “We absolutely want to get a hold of this guy before he does something like this again.”
The incident occurred on Aug. 27, 2007. Mejia-Ramirez was working on his girlfriend’s child’s bicycle in front of his home when a young girl walked by and offered to help, authorities said.
Mejia-Ramirez put his tools away, and the girl followed him into the basement, where he locked the door and sexually assaulted her, authorities said.
The girl resisted and was released after the assault, police said. She was taken to a hospital by family members and was treated and released.
Shortly after authorities conducted a search warrant at his home, Mejia-Ramirez vanished, leaving his family, a pregnant girlfriend, his job in Prince George’s County, a car and the house that he owned. He has eluded police since that day. Authorities believe Mejia-Ramirez may be on the run with his brother, William, a 30-year-old welder, who disappeared at the same time.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ludin Mejia-Ramirez or his brother should contact the task force at 301-489-1717.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, run by the U.S. Marshals Service, is composed of 28 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk, Va. The unit has captured 17,000 wanted fugitives since its creation in 2004.
