Crime & Safety
Police Urged to Withhold Toddler's Name in Murder-Suicide: Report
Family has reportedly asked Fairfax County Police not to release the name of child killed in house fire July 27.
FAIRFAX, VA — Relatives of the toddler killed last month in a massive house fire that turned out to be an apparent murder-suicide don't want the 2-year-old girl's name to be released.
The Washington Post reported Saturday that relatives want Fairfax County Police to spare the family additional pain, and the department is studying the unprecedented request.
The other person who died, 58-year-old Roy Eugene Rumsey, allegedly killed his daughter before fatally shooting himself in the head after starting the fire, according to police.
Find out what's happening in Fairfax Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Official policy is to release the names of all homicide victims.
The fire, on July 27, was at 12107 Fairfax Hunt Road, and Rumsey owned the house.
Find out what's happening in Fairfax Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene shortly after 11 a.m. and about found flames on both the first and second floors of the home.
It took firefighters about 40 minutes to extinguish the fire, after which they entered the home and found the toddler and Rumsey.
Photo: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
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