More This Week in Crime: Winterthur Murder Trial, Serial Bank Robber Strikes Again, and a Mob Assault Arrest

The murder trial of a Reston man who shot his girlfriend in his Winterthur apartment last October began this week.

Karen Deck, 42, was found dead Oct. 24, 2009, inside the apartment of Ronald L. Robertson Jr., 46, who lived on Winterthur Lane in the Hunters Woods section of Reston. Fairfax Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kelly Pearson said Monday that Robertson did not call police on the day he shot Deck, and only after he called his parents seeking help the next day did they notify the authorities.

Robertson and Deck, who lived on Inlet Court in the Lake Anne area, were a longtime couple who hung out together every day in Robertson's apartment, Deputy Fairfax Public Defender Dawn M. Butorac said. Robertson was an alcoholic who had not left the apartment for several years, Butorac said, and relied on Deck to bring him food and liquor.

Butorac said that on Oct. 23, 2009, Robertson had removed the magazine from a 9mm pistol and was attempting to slide the barrel out of the ready position when the gun, with a round in the chamber, accidentally went off.

Remember that it took more than four months for police to file murder charges.

Meanwhile, the FBI has joined the search for the serial bank robber -- not to be confused with the Serial Hamburglar (tm) -- that struck two Reston-area banks in October, following a new robbery linked to the man in Winchester.

The search for a person of interest in the Oct. 6 armed robbery of a bank in Sterling now stretches from Winchester to Great Falls and includes the FBI.

The man, described as being white and in his late 20s, is wanted for questioning in four bank robberies, one each in Sterling, Reston, Great Falls and Winchester.

He is further described as being between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 180 pounds.

The most recent robbery happened in Winchester Nov. 4 when a man robbed the Bank of Clarke County in the 200 block of North Loudoun Street.

Nice picture. Nothing says "I'm a serial bank robber" quite like a bouquet of flowers.

A 19-year-old Reston man became the fifth person to be arrested following a mob assault in Sterling on Friday.

Fredy F. Alfaro, 19, of Reston, was charged with simple assault by mob, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

The assault happened at 11:40 p.m. when a 17-year-old a 20-year-old were walking in the area and suddenly assaulted by a mob. The 17-year-old was also stabbed. The victims' injuries were not life threatening, police said.

Also charged in the case were Alexander Garcia, 25; Matias C. Garcia, 20; Manuel O. Rivera, 26; and Christopher A. Bryant, 21.

Finally, this fancy YouTube video was put together by friends of the Reston resident and Herndon High School student hit by a car on Friday, who remains in critical condition.


It's a nice gesture; hope he improves soon.