Fairfax County Police Department News

Fairfax County, VA – Our Cold Case squad works hard behind the scenes to solve a substantial number of cold violent crime cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. Leveraging new science and technology with their investigative expertise and incredible persistence, they have been able to bring long-awaited justice to several victims and their families in Fairfax County.

Who We Are:

FCPD’s Cold Case Squad was founded in 1995 and falls under the department’s Major Crimes Bureau. This squad is comprised of one supervisor and four detectives.

A criminal case is assigned to a Cold Case detective when the original detective on the case has exhausted all leads. This means the original detective has concluded all the necessary interviews, search warrants, collected all necessary evidence and there are no more leads to follow up on. This also means there is no set time that the case is actively being worked on by the original detective before it gets assigned to a Cold Case detective.

Once the case is assigned to a Cold Case detective, they start from scratch – reviewing all the evidence, taking a fresh look at the crime, and leveraging new technologies when and where they can to help break the case, no matter how long it takes.

For more information about some of our Cold Case Squad cases, click here.

What We Do:

These detectives work to investigate unsolved homicides, unsolved sex crimes, and cases with unidentified human remains.

Cold Case detectives use advancements in technology, such as genetic genealogy to aid in their investigations. They also seek the assistance of private and state labs for their modern-day cutting-edge technology to re-examine evidence and forge new leads on cold cases. This technology, coupled with tips from the community, often aids detectives in bringing violent criminals to justice. Tips, even seemingly small or insignificant, can make a difference in these unsolved crimes.

Training and Techniques:

Cold case detectives not only have years of experience with FCPD but they also have experience as Homicide and Sex Crime detectives, which are two prestigious positions within FCPD. They also annually attend the Mid-Atlantic Cold Case Homicide Investigator conference to keep up with modern trends and new technology that can aid in their investigations. 

Solved Cases:

Last year our Cold Case detectives closed a case involving Stephan Smerk, who brutally stabbed Robin Lawrence back in 1994. In 2023, he was arrested after these dedicated detectives found a DNA match linking Smerk to this homicide. Full story here.

In April of 2022, Cold Case detectives positively identified and arrested William Clark for a sexual assault case that took place in 1987. On March 6, 1987, William pretended to be a local radio personality and convinced the victim she had won a prize. When she arrived at the meet-up location, he convinced her to get in the vehicle where he sexually assaulted her. After 35 years, detectives linked William to this sexual assault using genetic genealogy. Full story here.

In November of 2022, Cold Case detectives identified and arrested George Thomas Jr. after a sexual assault case that occurred in 1988. George Thomas Jr. and his late brother Gregory Allen Thomas forced the victim into her vehicle and had her drive to a remote location where they both sexually assaulted her.

The Cold Case Squad continues to dedicate their time and efforts to solve cases previously deemed unsolvable. With their expertise in forensic science, utilization of cutting-edge technology, and unwavering commitment to exploring every lead, they tirelessly work to find justice for families and communities impacted by past tragedies.

Any information regarding an unsolved case can be used to bring criminals to justice, provide peace for the families who have lost their loved ones, and prevent other major crimes from occurring.

Anyone with additional information regarding any Cold Case is encouraged to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web  Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.  

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For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.