VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Missing Woman Still Being Sought

Fairfax County police are again issuing a public call for help in tracking down a 50-year-old woman who disappeared from the Kingstowne area six months ago.

Qaisra Khan, also known as Qaisra Shahbaz, was last seen Aug. 26, when she might have wandered from her home in the 6200 block of William Edgar Drive, police said. She had no credit card, no cellphone, no passport and no shoes when she left, police spokeswoman Mary Mulrenan said. She might have been disoriented and might not have her medication with her, police said.

Khan is described as white, 5 foot 3 and 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark green and black dress and a light green shawl, police said. Anyone with information was asked to call police at 703-691-2131.

-- Fredrick Kunkle

PET CREMATORIUM

Man Accused of Improper Disposal

A man who allegedly dumped more than 70 dead dogs, cats and other animals from a Chantilly pet crematorium on national forestlands in West Virginia has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Ronald Lee Henry Jr., 39, of Woodstock, Va., could get 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of willful depredation of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, prosecutors said.

The indictment handed up this week in Elkins, W.Va., says the dumping occurred Dec. 30, 2005, in Hardy County.

"Instead of burying or cremating the dear little darlings, he was dumping them alongside the road," Hardy County Sheriff Robert Ferrell said.