UPDATE: Detectives Seek Community’s Help After Body Found in Burke Lake Park

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West Springfield Police District– The efforts of our dedicated detectives paid off and with invaluable support from the community, we were able to successfully track down Rami El Sayed to Paterson, NJ. The Paterson Police Department apprehended El Sayed and he now faces charges of Second-Degree Murder in Fairfax County related to the murder of Cara Abbruscato. He will be extradited back to Fairfax County.

This case is ongoing and detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.

Original blog posted on October 1, 2023:

West Springfield Police District – Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau Homicide Unit are investigating the circumstances around a body found in Burke Lake Park campgrounds.

At approximately 3:09 p.m. yesterday, authorities received a 911 call and promptly dispatched officers to Burke Lake Park, located at 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. Upon arrival, officers discovered Cara Abbruscato, a 40-year-old resident of Fairfax, inside a tent. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel pronounced her deceased on the scene.

During the initial investigation, the Chief Medical Examiners’ office responded to the scene and discovered evidence of trauma to the upper body. An autopsy will be completed to confirm the cause and manner of death.

Detectives are seeking help from the community to help locate a person of interest named Rami El Sayed. He can be seen in the photo below.

Rami El Sayed

Additionally, we are asking the community to come forward if they were at Burke Lake Park campground and noticed a makeshift tent, pictured below, between September 19th and September 30th.

We are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.

Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure the victim’s family is receiving appropriate resources and assistance. 

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For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD