Man arrested after remains found in Essex County believed to be missing 19-year-old woman

ESSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) – Law enforcement officers believe they have found the remains of a woman who was reported missing in Westmoreland County in early December 2024. A social post from the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, Jan. 28, described how the remains were found after a search was executed in the neighboring Essex County nearly two months later. On Dec. 6, 19-year-old Gabriella Watkins was reported missing after she was seen entering a gray sedan driven by an unknown individual in the Placid Bay subdivision, according to the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office. Around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, a search was conducted on a large piece of land located near Church Hill and Desha Road in Essex County. Shortly after 11:45 p.m. that same day, remains were found that deputies said they believed to be Watkins. The remains were sent to the Chief Medical Examiner for further examination. After the remains were recovered, 20-year-old Abraham Medina, of Oak Grove, was arrested without incident in the 2900 block of Kings Highway in Westmoreland County. According to the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office, Medina was charged with one count of transporting, secreting, concealing or altering a dead body. Authorities reported Medina has received no bond and additional charges are pending.