Three Murdered,Victims Families Seek Help

Two brothers, Terry and Ryan Strope along with a friend Andres (Andy) Yelicie were attacked in the brothers  home, during the attack, suspects brutally stabbed all three men to death.  Nearly a year later few details of the suspects have emerged.

Andres (Andy) Yelicie, 26  who had worked at a credit union in Washington, D.C., managed to make it across the street, bleeding heavily, one neighbor said Yelicie, was incoherent beyond saying his name,  some report said he was able to give police a little details and wonder why no arrest had been made. A friend said Yelicie had lived with the Stropes for a couple of months. On the day he died Yelicie wrote on Facebook,”Andres is swamped at work… but is loving life right now.”  Terry Strope ran a contracting business, Capitol Concrete Solutions, Ryan Strope, a friend said was a  computer Internet Technology specialist in Tyson Corner. Neighbors said that friends frequently gathered at the Stropes’ house, but they did not suspect anything illegal.  Detectives believe the murders were possibly drug-robbery related, a number of males entered the home wearing black clothing with the word “Police” and “SWAT” displayed, a light colored or gold older-model Chevrolet Blazer or Jeep and a white compact car both with Maryland license plates were seen near the home. Police are hoping friends of the victims will come with more information to crack the case. The father Chris Strope, a retired Arlington County police officer, said he was not aware of a drug connection he along with the police have kept most details in this case secret, saying it is to protect the integrity of the investigation. Our August 5th call to the Fairfax County Police for an update, were not returned. Information that can lead to an arrest is known by some one, help solve this tragic case of triple murders, call Crime Solvers 1-800-866-TIPS, you do not have to give your name.

Cherish Life

Larry

Three Slain in Springfield

Police keep investigation under wraps while neighbors seek answers, security.

Three Springfield-area men are dead after they were fatally stabbed on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at their home in the 5400 block of Moultrie Road. According to a Fairfax County Police release, Terence Stope, 38 Ryan Stope, 26 and Andres Yelicie, 26 were discovered by police Wednesday, at 9:42 p.m., after Yelicie, bleeding, was discovered outside by a neighbor who placed the 911 call.

When officers arrived, Yelicie had what was described as ‘multiple stab wounds to the upper body. “Officers determined that additional wounded victims were inside the home. All three men were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital on Gallows Road, and all three died shortly afterwards. Fairfax county Police spokes Don Gotthardt could not say to what extent the investigation they’re keeping under wraps to protect the integrity of [the investigation]   ,”said Gotthardt.

The house was occupied by Ryan and Terence Strope. Police believe the third victim, Yelicie, lived at the residence as well.

More than 150 members of the Ravensworth Farm Community attended a community meeting on Sunday, Nov. 23 at Ravensworth Elementary School just blocks from where the murders occurred. “We understand that a crime such as this can cause considerable fear and anxiety in a community,” Maj. Shawn Barrett of the county’s criminal investigations bureau told the crowd. ” After extensive processing of the crime scene, interviews ans collecto of evidence, at this point point, all evidence suggests this crime was not random in nature.” Barrett said police had reason to believe the house and its residents were targeted. he declined to elaborate, but told residents that there is “nothing to indicate in our investigation that you’re in any jeopardy”.

Brent Reynolds, president of the Ravensworth Farm Civic Association, said he had gone door to door in the community in an attempt to answer as many questions as he could and gauge the mood of the community. “Their sense of security has been shot here, ” Said Reynolds. ” I just think most people want to talk about it.” Kay Anderson, who lives five doors down from the Stropes’ home , said she hadn’t even heard about the murders until her son called her Thursday, at 7 a.m., trying to get more details from her. “They seem to be a little bit frightened, “said Anderson of neighborhood residents. ‘They were concern this house was picked at random.”

Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) and police sought to answer the questions of concerned residents who had their sense of safety punctured by the act of violence rare for the area. The three murders are just the 18th, 19th and 20th in Fairfax County this year, which has a population of over 1 million. Bulova said that she had heard two main concerns from residents who had been contacting her office looking for information: was it gang-related or a random act? She along with police officials at the meeting sought to dispel both concerns without giving away much detail. ‘At this point point in investigation with evidence that has been collected, there is no indication of gang involvement, ” said Barrett. “This crime was not done randomly; there was a motive involved that I cannot speak of.”

“Ravensworth Farm and its sister community North Springfield are very,very safe communities. What happened late Wednesday is just extremely unusual, “said Bulova.  Capt. Bruce Ferguson , commander of the West Springfield District Station, said patrols had been increased in th area since the murders happened, some of them in unmarked cars. Among the details the police did reveal was that a car had been reported leaving the scene. Officials declined to comment on whether the crime may have been carried out by more than one person, but Barrett said twice at the community meeting Sunday that police were looking for the “suspects” involved in the case. “Its not that we’re keeping facts secret for any reason other than[that] there are two groups that know the facts of the investigation at this point; the police investigators ans the suspects,”he said.

As police released more information, some residents were reassured that their neighborhood is still safe for them.

Mary and Christopher Lipsey, who live several blocks away on Adair Lane, expressed confidence in the safety of the community. ” It’s not like we’re in a crime wave or anything,”said Christopher Lipsey. “I still walk outside at night with no problem, said Mary Lipsey.” even after this.”

Derek B. Johnson

Nov.24,2008

Springfield Connection

Tom Jackman, Amy Gardner, Washington Post Staff writers contributed

Friday, August 7th, 2009, 6:12 pm. Filed under home.