Join

Body recovered in Occoquan River

Fairfax County, Va. –– The body of a female boater who went missing last weekend on the Occoquan River was recovered this morning.

Police search teams Friday found the body of 64-year-old Julia Shew on the river shoreline near Fountain Head Regional Park, at 10875 Hampton Road in Fairfax County.

She was recovered at 10:25 a.m., nearly a week after she went missing off the Sandy Run Regional Park.

Shew went missing about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, after a day of training for an upcoming boat race that went on without her Sunday.

For most of the week following her disappearance, police and fire and rescue marine units, divers and a helicopter were used to search for the woman, according to Fairfax County police spokesman Bud Walker.

The body has been sent to the state’s medical examiner’s office for examination.

Officials said Shew was a seasoned boater who often trained in the area in which her body was found.

On Sunday, Fairfax fire and rescue spokesman Capt. Willie Bailey said conditions on the river at the time the woman was reported missing were unusually rough, with one to two feet waves.

Police said earlier this week their focus would remain on searching the water for Shew’s body, and that investigators did not suspect foul play in the woman’s disappearance.

Recent Stories

Mayor Derrick R. Wood outlined a bold and hopeful vision for the future of Dumfries during his annual State of the Town Address on June 5, 2025.

STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County has quietly ended its contract with PulsePoint, a mobile app that alerts nearby users when someone in a public space is experiencing cardiac arrest and may need CPR. The decision marks the conclusion of an eight-year relationship with the public safety technology.

Stafford County Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from school meals, following the signing of a new state law that will ban certain synthetic color additives by 2027.

On the last weekend in May, most Stafford families were abuzz with the excitement of summer’s arrival. The Allwine family was abuzz with excitement over the annual AA Farm Honey harvest.

Looking for art opportunities in the DMV? ArtsFairfax.org is your online destination to find and promote artist calls in and around Fairfax. Our Artist Calls directory is always free to use and highlights opportunities to audition, exhibit artwork, or secure commissions. Be sure to check out ArtsFairfax Artist Calls on an ongoing basis – new opportunities are added every week.

In addition to a dozen or so Artist Calls from throughout the region, ArtsFairfax is proud to host the following:

Fairfax250 RV Wrap

For illustrators, visual artists, and graphic designers, we are working with the Fairfax250 Commission to wrap a 37’-long RV that will travel to hundreds of events across Fairfax County. A signage company will handle the installation – all we need is the design. See your art on this rolling billboard all year long!

Read More

Submit your own Community Post here.

On June 20th, 2025, Woodbridge Rotary Club will be holding our 21st annual charity golf tournament. This tournament is in memory of two of our past Presidents and valued members of the community. Joe Devaney passed away March 22, 2005 and a few years ago, Bill O’Hop passed away barely a week after playing in this tournament in 2015. Both Joe and Bill were each other’s best friends and they both loved golf! Please help us pay tribute to our dear friends by participating in this tournament and helping us to support our local and international charities. If you are interested in golfing, sponsoring, donating a door prize and/or know someone who is, please contact us (Mark Worrilow [email protected] or 703-244-8702). Signing up is also possible using the QR code.

Submit your own Community Post here.

Your Weight Matters National Convention

Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.

This unique Convention truly has something

Van Metre 5K Run

Participate in the 33rd Annual Van Metre 5K Run—a race that goes further than 3.1 miles, where every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital. The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and has

×

Subscribe to our mailing list