Loudoun County, Virginia, sheriffs say the suspect in a fatal stabbing on Sunday had repeatedly approached the house where the attack happened the day before, and allegedly said he broke into the home, intending to kill the homeowners.
Melvin H. Wasike, 22, of Fairfax is charged with fatally stabbing Michael Fadely, 46, and severely injuring his fiancee, in their home in the 40800 block of Newton Place, in the Barclay Woods community, south of Leesburg.
The sheriff’s office said Wasike approached the house several times Saturday and claimed to be looking for someone.
In a statement released Monday, the sheriff’s office said a deputy responded to the home and remained there in case Wasike returned.
Eventually, Wasike returned Saturday in a vehicle. He was stopped by the deputy, identified and asked to leave the property.
The sheriff’s office said the deputy and homeowner checked the perimeter of the house and other security measures to make sure the house was secured late Saturday.
However, Wasike forced his way into the home at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Charging documents obtained by WTOP alleged that Wasike entered the home by kicking in the front door, while armed with a knife. Sheriff’s investigators say Wasike kicked then kicked-in the door of a third-floor bedroom door where “he stabbed Michael Fadely multiple times.”
Fadely’s fiancée was stabbed once in the back, puncturing her lung and causing injury to her hand and wrist, according to charging documents.
After authorities had served a search warrant at Wasike’s family’s home Sunday afternoon, he called 911 to turn himself in, but hung up the call, and turned off his phone.
Sheriff’s investigators tracked his phone, and located his vehicle in the area of Foxden Lane, and took him into custody without further incident.
“During an interview, the accused admitted to breaking into the residence while armed, with the intent of killing the homeowners,” according to the LCSO detective cited in the charging document.
A sheriff’s spokesman says no items were stolen from the home, and robbery does not appear to have been the motive. WTOP’s news partners NBC Washington reported that Wasike’s father said his son had been having mental health issues for a long time.
In the Monday statement, the sheriff’s office said there has been no known interaction between Wasike and the victims before he began showing up at the house Saturday. Investigators said he had also visited other homes in the area, claiming to be looking for someone.
Wasike is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and breaking and entering while armed with the intent to commit murder. He is being held without bond after an initial court appearance Monday.
