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Former Soldier Out For Blood Admits To 1994 Murder Of Young Mother In Virginia: Prosecutors Former Soldier Out For Blood Admits To 1994 Murder Of Young Mother In Virginia: Prosecutors
Former Soldier Out For Blood Admits To 1994 Murder Of Young Mother In Virginia: Prosecutors Three decades after a young mother was found brutally murdered in Fairfax County, a former Army soldier stationed in Arlington admitted to the crime. Stephan Smerk, 52, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of Robin Lawrence in November 1994, prosecutors announced on Friday afternoon. “Our cold case detectives exhibit unparalleled dedication when it comes to closing a case with many unknowns,” Fairfax County Chief of Police Kevin Davis previously said.  “This case is but one example of how our department’s police work goes above and beyond, and it exemplifies ou…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police
Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police A second teenager will be charged as an adult following an ongoing investigation after two men were found murdered at a Silver Spring park over the summer, the Montgomery County Department of Police announced. Quincy Johnson, of Takoma Park, and Lanham resident D'Andre Wint, both 20, were found shot to death at the Nolte Local Park in the 200 block of Denver Road late in the afternoon on Sunday, May 26. Our officers along with @mcpnews are on scene of a shooting a Nolte Local Park in Silver Spring.Officers located two shooting victims. More information will be released as it be…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Maryland Toddler Killed In DC Had 'Short, Meaningful Life," Family Says Maryland Toddler Killed In DC Had 'Short, Meaningful Life," Family Says
Maryland Toddler Killed In DC Had 'Short, Meaningful Life," Family Says A devastated family in Maryland is reeling and seeking answers after a beloved toddler was killed in DC. Late on Saturday, 1-year-old Upper Marlboro native Journee Moore was the subject of an emergency call in Northwest DC after going into cardiac arrest. According to police, officers were called at around 10:50 p.m. on Sept. 28 to a home in the 3700 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, where they found the 1-year-old suffering from critical injuries. Moore was rushed to the Children's National Hospital by DC Fire and EMS personnel, where the child would later be pronounced dead from blunt forc…

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by Zak Failla
News
US Marshals Make Additional Arrest Months After Fatal Triangnle Shooting: Police US Marshals Make Additional Arrest Months After Fatal Triangnle Shooting: Police
US Marshals Make Additional Arrest Months After Fatal Triangnle Shooting: Police A second suspect wanted in connection to the murder of Quatrail Raynard Smalls in Prince William County last winter has been arrested in Alexandria, authorities announced. In July, Tyus James Terrell was arrested following a lengthy search for his alleged role in the fatal shooting that left the 26-year-old Big Stone Gap resident with fatal injuries. Prince William County Police/GoFundMe photo On Monday, Sept. 30, US Marshals located Woodbridge resident Keavon Teddrick Coleman, 27, in Alexandria, where he was taken into custody. Shortly before 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, residen…

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by Zak Failla
News
Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff
Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff The man responsible for the double murder of a mother of four and the father of one of her children during a domestic dispute has been apprehended in Florida, authorities in Frederick County announced. David Phillip Turner, 33, a Miami resident, was arrested over the weekend following the investigation into the August murder of Crimea Malita Baker and Arlington resident Sean Antoine Lange in New Market. He was identified by officials as Baker's ex-husband and the father of three children. Posted by Frederick County Sheriff's Office, MD - Integrity Driven • Community Built on Monday, Sep…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police
Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police An 18-year-old suspect from Maryland linked to the the fatal shooting of a 26-year old District man has been apprehended, authorities announced on Monday night. Hyattsville resident Dartrell Bryant was identified by the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit and charged in connection to the fatal shooting of Jawaun Jackson in September. Officers were called at around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, to investigate reports of shots fired, and upon arrival, they found Jackson in a Hyattsville roadway. According to a spokesperson from the Prince George's County Police Depart…

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by Zak Failla
News
Fugitive Wanted For Murdering 18-Year-Old Woman In PWC Busted By Feds In MA, Police Say Fugitive Wanted For Murdering 18-Year-Old Woman In PWC Busted By Feds In MA, Police Say
Fugitive Wanted For Murdering 18-Year-Old Woman In PWC Busted By Feds In MA, Police Say A suspect has been arrested more than a month after an 18-year-old woman was found shot to death near a wooded area over the summer in Prince William County, police say. Ashlin Yamileth Paz, who has no fixed address, was found with fatal gunshot wounds in Manassas in August in what "does not appear to be a random" incident. On Wednesday, Aug 14, detectives announced that they have identified 20-year-old German Joseth Torres Lizama as a suspect who is now wanted for murder and other offenses. A blue Hyundai Elantra that was sought in connection to the investigation was also found in Fairfax…

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by Zak Failla
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Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials
Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials A grand jury in Fairfax County has indicted Brendan Banfield following a 19-month investigation into the murder of his wife and another man in February 2023, authorities announced on Monday. Banfield has been charged with multiple counts of murder after detectives recently uncovered new information that connected him to the deaths of wife Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 24, last year. Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said that Banfield is accused of stabbing his wife, and then shooting Ryan early on Feb. 24, 2023 inside their Reston home. "Early last year, a double murder dev…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Shooter Charged With Murder After Argument Outside Prince William County Car Wash: Police Shooter Charged With Murder After Argument Outside Prince William County Car Wash: Police
Shooter Charged With Murder After Argument Outside Prince William County Car Wash: Police What started as a verbal altercation outside of a Prince William County car wash turned deadly when a Springfield man took out a gun and shot his victim, who later died at the hospital, police say. Jermaine Antwoine Lewis, 25, is facing murder and other charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a 54-year-old man outside of the Sonic Soft Car Wash on Saturday afternoon.  According to the Prince William County Police Department, shortly before 4 p.m. on Sept. 14, officers were called to the car wash in the 14100 block of Richmond Highway in Woodbridge to investigate a shooting. Inv…

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by Zak Failla
News
Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder
Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder The District man who fired several shots into his ex's family home and killed an innocent bystander before torching the evidence has been convicted of murder, federal authorities announced. Kylee Palmer, 25, has been guilty by a grand jury in connection to the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin in Southeast DC in February 2020. Prosecutors say that on Feb. 11, 2020, Palmer got into an argument with an ex-girlfriend and stole her cell phone, leading to an exchange with her brother in the early hours of Feb. 12, 2020. At approximately 11 a.m., Palmer drove a stolen black Nissan Alt…

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by Zak Failla
News
Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison
Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison A man described by authorities as a "violent predator" was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday, Sept. 9 for kidnapping, robbing, and killing a Pennsylvania co-worker, authorities announced. Michael Allen Stark, 50, of Royersford, PA was found guilty by a Bucks County jury of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, flight to avoid apprehension, and abuse of a corpse, according to District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and court records. Stark's victim was 50-year-old Matthew James Branning of Sellersville, who went missing after l…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
'Loving, Caring, Compassionate,' Woman, 22, Killed With BF In Virginia Remembered By Loved Ones 'Loving, Caring, Compassionate,' Woman, 22, Killed With BF In Virginia Remembered By Loved Ones
'Loving, Caring, Compassionate,' Woman, 22, Killed With BF In Virginia Remembered By Loved Ones A family is "struggling to make sense of something that is senseless" after a 22-year-old woman and her boyfriend were shot and killed in Loudoun County. Mijal Conejero-Romera and Diego Alexander Woollett, both 22, were identified by investigators as the two who were found shot in Sterling and later died at an area hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Mijal Conejero-Romera GoFundMe A friend of the family who had known Conejero-Romera since she was 8 years old described her as "such a sweet girl, (who was) always smiling. "We don't know how we're going to go on," she continued.…

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by Zak Failla