A man was found dead today along the Custis Trail in Arlington, prompting a police investigation.
The man’s body was found shortly after 11 a.m. near the trail and the intersection of N. Kensington Street and Fairfax Drive, according to an Arlington County police spokeswoman. That’s just east of Westover Park.
“They have closed the trail, there are black bags and police vehicles on the closed portion of the trail,” one local told ARLnow earlier today.
“[Police] said they found someone they had been looking for for a few months,” said another local.
Detectives are investigating the death but do not believe there’s a threat to the community, according to ACPD’s Kiyah Daniell, who sent ARLnow the following statement.
At approximately 11:12 a.m. on May 23, adult male human remains were located near the Custis Trail in the area of N. Kensington Street and Fairfax Drive. The Arlington County Police Department is conducting a death investigation with assistance by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner who will work to positively identify the deceased and determine cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing and the preliminary investigation has not revealed a threat to the community.
So far, police have not directly confirmed speculation among neighbors that the death investigation is linked to news that a missing McLean man had been found deceased in Arlington.
The 80-year-old man was last seen at a store near Langston Blvd and N. Glebe Road in late November, according to Fairfax County police. That’s about two miles from where the body was found today.
“ACPD, Fairfax County Police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management were conducting follow up in the area on a missing persons case reported out of Fairfax County prior to the remains being located,” said Daniell.
UPDATE: Sadly, Robert was found deceased today in Arlington. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. Preliminarily, no foul play is suspected. Detectives continue to investigate. Thank you for sharing.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 23, 2025
