Crime & Safety

Husband arrested in Germantown homicide

Curtis Maurice Lopez, 45, was taken into custody in Charlotte, N.C.

Updated, 4:25 p.m: Police arrested the husband of Jane McQuain, who was found dead in the bedroom of her Germantown condo Wednesday night. 

Curtis Maurice Lopez, 45, was taken into custody at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., on the strength of a Maryland arrest warrant related to the death of 51-year-old McQuain, Montgomery County Police said Thursday in a press release.

Chief J. Thomas Manger is expected to announce the developments that led to Lopez’s arrest during a press conference in Rockville.

Find out what's happening in Germantownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McQuain's 11-year-old son William McQuain is still missing. Police are still asking for the public’s help in finding the child.

Update, 12:20 p.m.: While the police investigation continues into the death of Jane McQuain and the disappearance of her 11-year-old son William, a Gaithersburg photographer who knew the family said he was still processing the news.

Find out what's happening in Germantownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Her world revolves around William," said Clark Day, 58.

Day said he wasn't aware of them being in any kind of trouble, adding that he hadn't seen the family in about a year.

"My heart sank," Day said. "They were wonderful. I can't say enough nice things."

—Tiffany Arnold

Update, 11:22 a.m.: Montgomery County Police report that Jane McQuain's car has been found, but its location is not being released "to protect the integrity of this active investigation."

The whereabouts of her son, 11-year-old William McQuain, remain unknown, and the previously activated Amber Alert remains in place, police said. The boy is a sixth-grade student at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown. 

Update, 9:33 a.m.: Detectives from Germantown's 5th District in Germantown are investigating the death of 51-year-old Jane McQuain and the disappearance of her son, William McQuain.

— Tiffany Arnold

(Original) A 51-year-old mother is dead and her 11-year-old son is missing, Montgomery County Police said.

The woman, Jane McQuain of the 13100 block of Briarcliff Terrace in Germantown, was found dead in her home about 8:25 p.m. Wednesday by 6th District detectives responding to a missing persons investigation.

There was evidence of trauma to her body, a police news release said.

Earlier Wednesday, a friend of Jane McQuain had reported to police that he had not been able to contact her and was concerned for her welfare, police said.

The release said police do not know the whereabouts of her son, William McQuain, and Maryland State Police have activated an Amber Alert.

The boy was last in seen at the home about Sept. 30. He is described as a light skinned black male, about 5 feet tall and weighing 85 pounds. Jane McQuain's 2011 Honda CRV is missing. It has Maryland tags 5AG9405. Police believe William McQuain could be with the vehicle.

Anyone with information about the boy or the car is asked to call 911 or the Montgomery County Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Those who want to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or 240-773-TIPS.

Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for these crimes. Anonymous tips can also be provided by typing "MCPD" plus the tip on a cell phone or PDA and texting it to 274637 (CRIMES).


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