A 31-year-old Herndon woman has been arrested and charged with the stabbing death of her 79-year-old mother, the Fairfax County Police Department announced today.
Helena Little was taken into custody at 3 p.m. yesterday (Thursday), two days after her mother — Norma Little — was found unresponsive inside her apartment in the 2300 block of Dulles Station Blvd.
Little has been charged with one count of second degree murder and could face up to 20 years to life in prison if convicted. She is currently being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 18), a caretaker discovered Norma Little’s body with “stab wounds to the upper body,” police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said initially that the death was considered suspicious and not suspected of being a random act.
The FCPD says detectives identified Helena Little as a suspect based on interviews, video surveillance and other evidence they were able to collect. They then arrested at 3 p.m. in the 1800 block of Metro Center Drive in Reston.
Helena Little’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 5, when she will appear for a preliminary hearing in Fairfax County’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. There, a judge will determine if there is probable cause to send the case to a grand jury.
“The investigation into the circumstances of Norma Little’s death is ongoing,” the FCPD said, adding that anyone with information can contact detectives in the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2.
