The Blotter
By: Scott McCabe
Examiner Staff Writer
October 27, 2009
A father and mother were killed in a four-vehicle crash on the Fairfax County Parkway in the Pohick area, police said.
Michael K. Merrill, 47, and Jeanne Merrill, 42, of Fairfax Station, were pronounced dead on the scene. Their three children, 13, 3 and 1, survived the crash and were released to family members.
The Merrills were traveling north in a Honda Pilot when they were struck by a 2005 Toyota Corolla that lost control. The two cars crossed over the median into oncoming traffic and struck two other vehicles.
Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, police said.
Cop charged with pulling gun on ghoulA Baltimore police officer pulled his gun on a haunted house employee dressed as the killer from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
Police say the employee jumped out at Sgt. Eric Janik after the haunted house tour was over Sunday night to get "one last scream." Instead, Janik pulled his service weapon and pointed it at the man. The man dropped the chain saw, which had no chain and was not dangerous.
Janik was charged with assault. Charging documents show that Janik smelled of alcohol and told two different stories about what he did with the gun -- both of which were contradicted by witnesses.
$100K reward offered insearch for Tech student
Police are offering a $100,000 reward to generate new leads in the search for a Virginia Tech student who disappeared outside a Metallica concert.
Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, was last seen Oct. 17 outside the concert in Charlottesville.
State police said Metallica planned to contribute $50,000 to the reward.
Police investigate suspicious deathFairfax County homicide detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a 42-year-old Reston woman.
Police were called to an apartment on the 11900 block of Winterthur Lane on Sunday to check on the welfare of a man.
When police got there, they found the man sitting and the body of a woman, Karen Deck. Police determined Deck suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body.
- Compiled by Scott McCabe
