Crime & Safety

Dead Reston Man Co-Owner of Dunkin' Donuts

Bharat Patel opened the Hunters Woods store on Wednesday. On Saturday, he was found dead a block away.

The victim in a suspicious death in Reston on Saturday was an owner/franchisee of the that opened just days ago at Hunters Woods Village Center.

Bharat Patel, 40, along with co-owners Jay and Sri Vederey, opened the franchise at 2280 Hunters Woods Plaza Wednesday morning. By just after midnight on Saturday, Patel was dead.

“All of us at Dunkin’ Donuts are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of Bharat Patel, a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee in Reston," a company spokesperson told WJLA TV. "We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Bharat.

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"This tragedy impacts all of us at Dunkin’ Donuts, especially those who had the pleasure to work with him on a daily basis."

Jay Vederey said the co-owners and employees were still in a state of shock.

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Patel lived at 11913 Winterthur Ln., about a block away from Hunters Woods.

He was found dead about 2 a.m. in the bushes on the same block as his apartment. He had trauma to the upper body.

Fairfax County Police detectives on Sunday released a composite sketch of a suspect in the suspicious death  

The suspect is described as an Indian male, 25-35 years old; approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall with a thin build. The suspect was wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt with a thin orange stripe down the sleeves and blue jeans.

Officers originally responded to the 11900 block of Winterthur Lane for a reported fight about 12:45 a.m.

The officers did not find any fight.

About an hour later, a missing person report was made at Hunter Woods Plaza. An investigation lead the officers back to Winterthur Lane, where the body was found.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcountycrimesolvers.org or text “TIP 187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.


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