Crime & Safety

Fairfax County Homicides Up in 2012

Five more homicides occurred in the county in 2012 than in 2011.

In 2012, the Fairfax County Police Department handled a total of 16 homicides in the area — five more than were reported in 2011.

Public Information Officer Lucy Caldwell said in a recent email 15 of the 2012 cases are already solved or closed. 

In 2011, 11 homicides were reported.

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Before then, the numbers vary: 16 homicides were reported in 2010, 14 in 2009 and 19 in 2008.

Caldwell said the majority of the homicides that happen in Fairfax County occur among family members, acquaintances or people who know each other — not between strangers.

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Police responded to a call reporting a suspicious death in the Franconia area Friday, Nov. 30. FCPD later ruled the death a homicide and arrested the victim's roommate, Eric Kweder, 34, who fled the scene after the incident.

After using police helicopters, K-9 units and civilian tips, police located the suspect within five miles of the scene around 2:30 p.m. the same day of the incident. Kweder is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4.


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