The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has approved a charge of criminal homicide against Joel Ayala Jr., 20, regarding the incident in the 2900 block of Spring Valley Road, East Hempfield Township, occurring during the late night of March 10 and morning of March 11.

The East Hempfield Township Police Department were dispatched to the address around 11:22 p.m. March 10 in response to a report of cardiac arrest. The reporting person, the victim’s father, informed Lancaster County Wide Communication that he found his daughter deceased in the garage of his home.

When officers arrived, they located a 22-year-old deceased female, Linnette Ayala, in the garage, partially wrapped in bedding. Police also found cleaning products such as bleach and a bucket and identified blood on the bedsheets and in the victim’s bedroom.

Ayala Jr. was not home at this time and had left prior with his mother. He was interviewed on the morning of March 11 and admitted he was responsible for the murder of his sister.

Ayala Jr. is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

East Hempfield Township Police Det. Sgt. Christopher Chase filed charges.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman and First Deputy DA Travis Anderson investigated and approved charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.