Woman found dead after Reston fire may have been shot and stabbed

A woman found dead after a fire in a Reston apartment building had possible knife and gunshot wounds, and the death is being investigated as a homicide, Fairfax County authorities said Tuesday.

The woman, identified as Jennifer Lynne Pearson, 38, was found early Monday inside a locked second-floor unit by firefighters responding to a call to the 12000 block of Waterside View Drive. According to authorities, Pearson had trauma to the upper body that may have been knife wounds and gunshots. She was pregnant at the time of her death, authorities said.

More crime and safety news

Youth is killed in school accident

Martin Weil

The incident occurred at Fox Mill elementary school in the Herndon area of Fairfax County.

2 shot in DC; 1 in critical condition

Martin Weil

The shooting occurred late Tuesday night in NE Washington.

Accused Labor Department lawyer dead in cell; throat had been cut

Keith L. Alexander and Peter Hermann

Paul Mannina was accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker and viciously beating her.

Read more

According to a search warrant, authorities have not been able to reach a male resident of the apartment. A cellphone belonging to the man was traced to the vicinity of the apartment.

It was not clear whether the cellphone was near the apartment at the time of the fire or the woman’s death.