Authorities in Fauquier County, Virginia, have arrested Jose Velasquez-Martinez, 27, in connection with the fatal stabbing of Brandon Probst, 29. The investigation began when a homeowner returned to her residence on March 27 and discovered a severely injured man bleeding on her sofa.
Homeowner Finds Stranger Fatally Injured in Her Living Room
According to police reports, the homeowner—who has not been publicly identified—arrived at her house around 9:50 p.m. and immediately noticed an unknown man suffering from stab wounds to the neck and chest. Shocked, she ran out and called authorities.
“I never saw him. I just heard a man crying,” she told FOX 5. “I hadn’t turned the lights on, and I could tell somebody was on the sofa with a blanket over them.”
The victim, later identified as Brandon Probst of Stuarts Draft, was rushed to Winchester Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Investigation and Arrest of Velasquez-Martinez
Detectives with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, leading them to Augusta County. On March 30, authorities arrested Velasquez-Martinez at a hotel in Front Royal. He was charged with murder and malicious wounding.
Altercation Outside the Home Before the Stabbing
Court documents indicate that Probst and Velasquez-Martinez were involved in a physical altercation near a vehicle outside the home before the fatal stabbing. The reason for their presence at the property remains unclear.
A woman inside the vehicle attempted to intervene, at which point Velasquez-Martinez allegedly cut her arm. She required 16 stitches at the hospital, but additional details about her involvement have not been released.
Legal Proceedings
Velasquez-Martinez, who is being represented by a public defender, was arraigned on March 31 and remains in custody. Further court proceedings are pending as the investigation continues.
