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Police & Fire
WRONG GUY: Charges Dropped For Driver Falsely Accused In Crash That Killed Virginia Dad WRONG GUY: Charges Dropped For Driver Falsely Accused In Crash That Killed Virginia Dad
Wrong GUY: Charges Dropped For Driver Falsely Accused In Crash That Killed Virginia Dad DNA evidence has led to dropped charges for one man wrongly accused in a crash last spring that killed a Virginia dad, and fresh charges for another. A 55-year-old Woodbridge man had initially been accused of blowing a red light in a Ford F-150 pickup truck, killing passenger, 30-year-old Eric Kuhn on April 29 at the intersection of Old Bridge Drive and Colby Drive in Woodbridge, Prince William County police said. However, that man named 33-year-old Austin Michael Woolf, of Fredericksburg, as the true driver, and testing of DNA evidence proved that Woolf was actually the driver behind the w…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Josue Gutierrez Of Chantilly Dies Suddenly, 18: 'Our Worlds Are Forever Changed' Josue Gutierrez Of Chantilly Dies Suddenly, 18: 'Our Worlds Are Forever Changed'
Josue Gutierrez Of Chantilly Dies Suddenly, 18: 'Our Worlds Are Forever Changed' A northern Virginia community is mourning the sudden loss of 18-year-old Josue Gutierrez. A high school senior in Chantilly, Josue died on Oct. 16 after battling depression, according to his obituary. Born in Honduras, Josue came to the U.S. at 14 years old. He was being remembered as a gifted artist who "could do amazing things with a pencil and a piece of paper," his obituary reads. He was also a talented watercolor artist. Josue loved to rollerblade and enjoyed going on hikes and roller coasters, loved ones say. A GoFundMe launched for his family had raised $1,200 as of Thursday, Oct. …

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Northern Virginia Mom Bailey Ross Dies, 25 Northern Virginia Mom Bailey Ross Dies, 25
Northern Virginia Mom Bailey Ross Dies, 25 Bailey Alexis Ross, of northern Virginia, died on Thursday, Oct. 12. She was 25 years old. According to her obituary, Bailey was born in Warrenton and raised in Marshall, for most of her childhood. She graduated from Skyline High school in Front Royal. A GoFundMe campaign for Bailey had raised more than $6,700 as of Wednesday, Oct. 25. "If you knew Bailey you know how amazing she truly was," reads the campaign launched by Kayla Neece.  "She was generous, bright, outgoing. She was a great mother, sister, daughter, niece and friend. She will truly be missed by so many, and touched…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Dad Tommy Alvarado Killed In Virginia Crash Was Planning Wedding With Fiancé, Loved Ones Say Dad Tommy Alvarado Killed In Virginia Crash Was Planning Wedding With Fiancé, Loved Ones Say
Dad Tommy Alvarado Killed In Virginia Crash Was Planning Wedding With Fiancé, Loved Ones Say Support is surging for the family of Tommy Alvarado, a 22-year-old driver killed in a Virginia crash earlier this month. Tommy died after losing control of his vehicle on Lake Jackson Drive in Manassas on Oct. 15, police previously said. He leaves behind his fiancé, Linda Tran, and two children, Mila Ana Alvarado and Matias Alexys Alvarado, who according to his obituary were "the light of his life." Tommy's obituary says he and Linda were set to marry in July 2024. "He was the above average father, going out of his way to make his babies laugh," his obituary says. "Despite the sleepless n…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Woman Arrested For Premeditated Murder Of Beloved Son, Father Of Six In Northwest DC Woman Arrested For Premeditated Murder Of Beloved Son, Father Of Six In Northwest DC
Woman Arrested For Premeditated Murder Of Beloved Son, Father Of Six In Northwest DC Police say that a Maryland woman has been apprehended months after 46-year-old Donald B. Childs was found shot and killed in Northwest DC. Over the summer, officers were called to investigate a midday shooting in the 100 block of Farragut Street NW, where they found the father of six suffering from a gunshot wound inside an area residence, investigators said. The homicide was reported shortly before 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 30. Childs was rushed by DC Fire and EMS personnel to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries.  BREAKING NEWS: CRITICAL SHOOTING W/CPR: 5000 Bl. of …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Driver Lodged In Windshield Dumped Miles From Maryland Crash Scene: Police Driver Lodged In Windshield Dumped Miles From Maryland Crash Scene: Police
Driver Lodged In Windshield Dumped Miles From Maryland Crash Scene: Police The search is on for a hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a beloved 28-year-old man in Prince George's County and dragged his body for miles.  New Carrollton's Franklin Membreno Mendez has been identified as the person struck and killed in a hit-and-run in Lanham on Saturday morning after he was involved in a separate crash and got out of his car to survey the damage, police say. Franklin Membreno Mendez GoFundMe Officers from the Prince George's County Police Department were called to the 7500 block of Ardwick Ardmore Road shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, where the…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Home Explosion: Virginia Family Of 7 Escapes Fire That Claimed Everything But Their Lives Home Explosion: Virginia Family Of 7 Escapes Fire That Claimed Everything But Their Lives
Home Explosion: Virginia Family Of 7 Escapes Fire That Claimed Everything But Their Lives The Keller family is still making sense of it all. The sounds of popping and crackling that awoke the family patriarch, Brayden, on Friday, Oct. 20, is what ultimately saved their lives, according to a GoFundMe for Brayden, his wife, and their five children. Brayden was able to get all five children and his wife out of the house before the explosion that claimed their home and everything inside of it, on the 16000 block of Woodgrove Road in Round Hill at 4:30 a.m., the Kellers and fire officials said. "We are doing everything we can do to stay positive for our children during this incredib…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Popular Congressional Cemetery Worker 'Mr. King' Dies Peacefully In DC At 86 Popular Congressional Cemetery Worker 'Mr. King' Dies Peacefully In DC At 86
Popular Congressional Cemetery Worker 'Mr. King' Dies Peacefully In DC At 86 Long live the King. The community is mourning the loss of Randolph Linworth King, a beloved longtime employee of the Historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, who died at George Washington University Hospital at the age of 86. King, who became a staple at the "cemetery of national memory" while serving for decades on the grounds before retiring two years ago died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 11, according to co-workers who are rallying support for his family. "He was truly an inspiration for those of us that worked amongst him, with him, and even as his boss," organizers of a fun…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Florida Motorcyclist Crosses Double Yellow Line, Dies On Group Ride In Virginia: Cops, Friends Florida Motorcyclist Crosses Double Yellow Line, Dies On Group Ride In Virginia: Cops, Friends
Florida Motorcyclist Crosses Double Yellow Line, Dies On Group Ride In Virginia: Cops, Friends A 65-year-old Florida man died in a Loudoun County motorcycle crash. Jorge Seminario crossed a double yellow line and was trying to pass multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed when the driver of a van made a left turn into a driveway on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 3:25 p.m., the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. The motorcyclist struck the left front side quarter panel of the van in the 19200 block of Harmony Church Road in Hamilton. Seminario was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the van was not injured. A GoFundMe launched for Seminario's s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'Devastated:' Death Of 19-Year-Old Struck By Train Shatters Hearts In Virginia 'Devastated:' Death Of 19-Year-Old Struck By Train Shatters Hearts In Virginia
'Devastated:' Death Of 19-Year-Old Struck By Train Shatters Hearts In Virginia Support is on the rise for a Virginia family mourning the loss of 19-year-old Emilio Maurisio Rivas. The death of Rivas, of Catlet, is being investigated as a suicide, police in Prince William County said, noting he was walking on train tracks near Gardner Manor Place and Hillcrest Farm Lane in Gainesville on Monday, Oct. 9, when he was struck. The train engineer sounded the train horn to warn Rivas, who continued to walk within the tracks before being struck by the train, police said. Fire and rescue personnel responded to the scene where Rivas was pronounced dead.  More than $470 ha…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Francisco 'Yogi' Somarriba Of Fredericksburg Dies On 50th Birthday Francisco 'Yogi' Somarriba Of Fredericksburg Dies On 50th Birthday
Francisco 'Yogi' Somarriba Of Fredericksburg Dies On 50th Birthday Francisco Somarriba, of Fredericksburg, died on Wednesday, Oct. 4 — his 50th birthday. A GoFundMe page launched for his children, 22 and 24, says Francisco was affectionately known as Yogi, and will be remembered for his "charisma, generosity, kindness, cooking skills and easy going [demeanor]." "Today was his 50th birthday and the day that God has called him to return home." Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m., at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service in Fredericksburg. A celebration of life will follow. Click here to donate and here for service details.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Truck Driver Dad Dies Weeks After Fiery Virginia Wreck, Charges Upgraded For Teen Driver Truck Driver Dad Dies Weeks After Fiery Virginia Wreck, Charges Upgraded For Teen Driver
Truck Driver Dad Dies Weeks After Fiery Virginia Wreck, Charges Upgraded For Teen Driver A Virginia dad whose truck was struck by a speeding driver and burst into flames last month has died, and charges have been upgraded for the 18-year-old driver who struck him. Cesar Yepez was identified on a GoFundMe campaign as the victim struck by Jose A. Padilla Espinosa on Route 28 Monday, Sept. 18 in Sterling. Yepez, a dad of two, died on Monday, Oct. 2, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. Padilla Espinosa had originally been charged with forging tags and driving without insurance, but upon Yepez's death, Padilla Espinosa was additionally charged with involuntary manslaughte…

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by Cecilia Levine