Fairfax County Police Department Takes Fresh Look at Cold Cases

The Fairfax County Police Department has launched a new webpage to help investigate cold cases in Fairfax County, which include several in the Tysons area. 

The platform houses case information spanning 60 years in the hope that anyone with information will come forward to help resolve the cases. Cold case detectives are asking the public to provide any information about the cases — no matter how small.

“We are committing countless hours and all available resources to close these cases and provide long-awaited answers to victims’ families, and bring those who committed these awful crimes to justice,” said Major Ed O’Carroll, the bureau commander of major crimes.

The website currently provides a limited list of cases, including several local ones. More cases will be added as detectives comb through existing incidents.

Cases are categorized by decade and include a description of the incident, a photo and the date of the incident. As of today, 20 of the cases occurred in the Tysons area — mostly in and surrounding Falls Church. 

In 2001, the remains of a woman were found near a drainage ditch on the 1500 block of Lincoln Circle in McLean.  The woman was likely shot, according to police. Jewelry and clothing were found at the scene. 

In other cases, the identity of the victim is known. For example, Jerome McKagen was found shot to death in his Tysons home on George Washington Road in 1992. 

Another incident that rocked the local community was the mysterious death of a couple and their 16-year-old son in 1999. Faud Taima, 63, Dorothy Taima, 54, and their son Leith Taima were found dead in their home. Faud was involved in business dealings in Iraq. 

To provide information, people can:

• contact the Major Crimes Bureau: 703-246-7800, option 8
• submit tips anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by texting “FCCS” plus tip to 847411 or online
• download the Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”

The police department says that anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100-$1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest.

The cold case squad was founded in 1995 and is housed under FCPD’s major crimes bureau. It investigates unresolved homicides and sex crimes in Fairfax County.

Photo via Bill Oxford/Unsplash