Suspect charged with murder after fatal stabbing inside Loudoun Co. home

The home where Loudoun County deputies responded to a reported deadly stabbing. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has identified and charged the suspect accused of stabbing two people, killing one, inside a home south of Leesburg, Virginia, early Sunday morning.

The suspect, Melvin H. Wasike, 22, of Fairfax was arrested this afternoon and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and breaking and entering while armed with intent to commit murder, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office told WTOP that Wasike called police after the murder to turn himself in, but hung up the phone ahead of confirmation. A spokesman for the department confirmed that they tracked the suspect’s phone and arrested him.

Wasike was taken into custody near Leesburg sometime before noon and is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on no bond. No motive for the stabbing has been released.

The sheriff’s office also identified the victim who died in the attack as Michael Fadely, 46, of Leesburg. The surviving victim has not been identified, but police say they were taken to a hospital and is in stable condition.



Just after 4:40 a.m. Sunday, Loudoun deputies were called to a home in the 40800 block of Newton Place in the Barclay Woods community near Leesburg over a reported stabbing, according to an earlier police statement.

This story has been updated to include that the suspect has been arrested, identified and charged,  and that one of the victims has been identified.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein and Ivy Lyons contributed to this report.

Joshua Barlow

Joshua Barlow is a writer, composer, and producer who has worked for CGTN, Atlantic Public Media, and National Public Radio. He lives in Northeast Washington, D.C., where he pays attention to developments in his neighborhood, economic issues, and social justice.

Jessica Kronzer

Jessica Kronzer graduated from James Madison University in May 2021 after studying media and politics. She enjoys covering politics, advocacy and compelling human-interest stories.

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