Fairfax judge issues death sentences in Reston double murder

By Staff

On Friday, May 23, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows issued two death sentences to Alfredo R. Prieto, 42, who was convicted of slaying a young couple near Hunter Mill Road in Reston in 1988.

Prieto's attorney unsuccessfully tried to convince jurors that his client, who is reported to have an IQ of 70, was ineligible for the death sentence due to mental retardation, but a jury decided that a death sentence was appropriate.

Prieto's DNA was entered into a national DNA bank after he was convicted for another murder in California and was eventually traced back to the double murder in Reston.

As required by Virginia law, Bellows issued an execution date, Oct. 3, but then suspended the date pending appeals.

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