Account
Jan 13, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Gabriella
Watkins
19
19
64 inches
145 lbs
165 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
The story of Gabriella Dawn Watkins is one that ended in tragedy, leaving a community in mourning. In December 2024, the 19-year-old was reported missing from Colonial Beach, Virginia, a small town in Westmoreland County. She was last seen on December 5, 2024. Her disappearance was described as uncharacteristic, as she was known to be in close contact with her grandmother who raised her. Concerns grew quickly when all communication from Gabriella ceased and her phone was no longer in service. She was described as being 5'4" tall, weighing between 145 and 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office immediately began an investigation into Gabriella's disappearance. Her family feared she may have been a victim of human trafficking and started a GoFundMe campaign to aid in the search. Before she went missing, Gabriella had been receiving help for mental health issues and was known to sometimes stay at homeless shelters or motels. The investigation led authorities to a suspect, Abraham Medina, who was initially charged with several property crimes in the Placid Bay subdivision, the same area where Gabriella was last seen. Information found on Medina's cell phones, which were seized as part of that investigation, ultimately led authorities to discover Gabriella's remains. The search for Gabriella Watkins came to a heartbreaking end in January 2025, when her body was discovered in neighboring Essex County. Abraham Medina, then 21, was subsequently charged with concealing her body. Later, in June 2026, he was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and shooting in an occupied building. The case that began as a missing person report tragically evolved into a homicide investigation. Gabriella was remembered by her family as a vibrant person with an infectious spirit and a big heart, who faced personal challenges with optimism. Her death was a profound loss for her loved ones and the wider community, cutting short the life of a young woman on the cusp of her 20th birthday.
Dec 05, 2024
Colonial Beach
Virginia
Westmoreland County
Colonial Beach
No
161889
Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office
Montross
Virginia
Westmoreland County
22520
175 Polk St, Virginia
8044938066
County
Law Enforcement
202400906
2024-12-11
Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
Yes
06/01/2026
