MANASSAS, Va. – A local couple was detained by police after a funeral home reported them for transporting a dead body.

According to a media release from the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), a Manassas couple in a Toyota Corolla were pulled off the road by deputies in Calverton on Novmember 19, 2024.

Deputies removed the couple from the car and confirmed the presence of a deceased female wrapped in blankets in the backseat/trunk area.

The couple advised that they were merely transporting a family member, who had died in Central Virginia a few days prior, to a funeral home in Manassas.  

Upon arrival, FCSO detectives conferred with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office, and the doctor of the deceased woman. They also worked with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office to check the woman’s home and to corroborate collected information.  

After concluding that there was no indication of foul play, detectives then arranged for an official pronouncement of death and an examination. 

No arrests were made. The couple was released from custody to continue with their promise of bringing their family member to her final resting place. 

The FCSO reminds the public:

When finding a deceased person, immediately contact local authorities before moving the body. Procedures and protocols are in place to ensure that both justice, and respect for the deceased, is always served.

Manassas is a town in northern Virginia, located approximately 35 miles west of Washington, DC.  As of the 2023 census, the population was 42,696.