FUGITIVE
CASE #: 2025-181
Melanie Christine Cuellar
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
El Paso, Texas
Summary:
Melanie Christine Cuellar, a 28-year-old woman, is wanted as a fugitive in connection with a July 19, 2025 hit-and-run crash that killed Maria Lopez, a 77-year-old mother and grandmother, in South-Central El Paso. Cuéllar is wanted on a charge of collision involving death and has not been found.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Police say Lopez was crossing near Alameda and Gibraltar on July 19 when she was hit by a driver who didn't stop. She died at the scene. Maria Lopez was crossing the 6800 block of Alameda in South-Central. She was struck by a light-colored SUV that was traveling west on Alameda. The driver of the SUV did not stop and continued west on Alameda, police said at the time. Lopez died at the scene.
Additional Details:
El Paso Police have located the vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run that killed a 77-year-old woman in South-Central El Paso. Police say investigators have located the suspect vehicle and are still investigating the case. Investigators later located the vehicle and identified 28-year-old Melanie Christine Cuéllar as the suspected driver. Over the weekend, the daughter of the victim, Viviana Lopez, went on social media with a photo of the suspect asking for the public's help. "We just buried my mother. I say buried, because she is not at rest," Viviana Lopez said in the social media clip. "She is hiding and I need your help to find her." Maria was on her way back to Juarez to shop and see family when the tragedy occurred. Wanted by the U.S. Marshal's Service. As of this posting, Cuéllar has a warrant flag in El Paso County’s court records database, confirming she is still at large. She was charged with other driving related offences in 2021 and 2024.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Cuellar featured on Crime Stoppers Most Wanted list with $100,000 bond.
El Paso Police officially identified Melanie Christine Cuellar as the wanted suspect.
Police announced they had located the suspect vehicle and identified a suspect in connection with the hit-and-run.
Maria Lopez struck by light-colored SUV at 6800 block of Alameda; driver fled scene. Victim died at scene.
Associated Persons
Maria L. (Victim) - Deceased
Viviana L. (Victim's daughter) - Living
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