Two Found Dead After Break-In, Fire

"FAIRVIEW BEACH, VA - Two people were killed in what authorities suspect was a murder-suicide of a domestic nature in Fairview Beach on Saturday night.

"If deputies had not acted quickly, a third person could have died, King George County sheriff's 1st Sgt. Chris Giles said yesterday.

"Deputies received a call about 8:30 p.m. Saturday reporting a residential break-in in progress with shots fired at a home at Fifth Street and Fairview Drive, Giles said.

"When Sgt. Joseph Patterson and Deputy Tim Lyons arrived, the house was on fire and smoke could be seen inside the house.

"`Through heroic efforts of both of them, they were able to rescue one of the occupants of the residence,` Giles said.

The two victims were found dead in the basement after firefighters extinguished the fire.

"Giles declined to identify the survivor last night but said it was an adult woman who remained at Mary Washington Hospital for observation.

"The survivor and her sister, both adults, lived in the home.

"The identities of the two people killed had not been confirmed as of last night, but Giles said it appeared the man found dead was the one who broke into the home.

"The bodies of the man and woman were sent to the medical examiner's office in Richmond for identification and autopsy. Giles did not know when results would be available.

"Deputies were still investigating whether the man was a former boyfriend of the woman killed.

"Giles said there had been a protective order banning someone from the home within the past year, but he did not know if it was still in effect on Saturday.

"Deputies had not previously responded to the home for problems, he said."

From fredericksburg.com...