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Text30-Year-Old Homicide Solved
Fairfax County Police Department
Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030
703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253
FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
News Release: 79/021/6355/eja/(8)
January 27, 2009
30-Year-Old Homicide Solved
Detectives of the Fairfax County Police Department Cold Case Squad recently closed a case that was 30 years old. In January 1979, John Bell, 68 at the time, and his sister Mary Bell, 84 at the time, were the victims of a burglary. Mary Bell lived at 2910 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton. During that burglary, a struggle ensued and John Bell died as a result of multiple stab wounds. Mary Bell was also injured but survived the attack. John Bell, it is believed, was able to fight the intruder. The suspect’s hair was pulled out and a bandana fell to floor as he fled the residence.
Through determination, perseverance and modern science a suspect was identified. Douglas Lee Simmons was 18 years old at the time of the burglary-murder. It is believed that he entered the home to commit a simple burglary. He unexpectedly met with John Bell and killed him.
The details and evidence of the case have been maintained by the police department all these years. In August 2008, the evidence was submitted for DNA testing. The results linked Simmons to the burglary-murder. Detectives proceeded to speak with friends and family members of Simmons and his associates. Any other possible suspects or accomplices were cleared of the incident. The investigation further revealed that Douglas Simmons died in a fatal car crash at the age of 34 in 1995. Mary Bell died of natural causes in her mid 90s in 1988.
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