Victim's Brother Charged in Reston Homicide

Charles Hamilton, 59, has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of his sister, 68-year-old Ruth H. Allen, Tuesday morning in Reston.

Allen was an environmental health expert, college professor and life coach who lived on Durand Drive in Reston.

Fairfax County Police were called to a home at 11310 Geddys Court after shots were fired around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday. Allen was taken to Reston Hospital Center, where she was declared dead a short time later. Hamilton was was taken into custody at the scene.

NBC4 is reporting the Geddys Court address is the home of Allen and Hamilton's 91-year-old mother, who witnessed the shooting. The siblings had been at their mother’s home, where Hamilton also lived, to discuss the guardianship of another brother who had recently suffered a stroke, NBC4 reported.

It is the second homicide in Reston this year. In June, Bharat Patel was beaten to death outside his apartment near Hunters Woods Village Center.

Allen lived with her husband, George, at 2039 Durand Dr. in Reston.

Next-door neighbor Bill Sennett said Allen was a "nice lady." He said he recently saw her at the Rescue Reston rally against development of Reston National Golf Course. Allen's home on Durand overlooks Reston National.

Allen was a frequent speaker and author on health and environmental topics. She became a certified Integral Life Coach in 1999, according to her business website.

Allen received a PhD from Yale University in 1977 in environmental health. According to her bio, Allen served on the faculty at American University in environmental sciences and management. She completed post doctoral training at Johns Hopkins University in cancer epidemiology, biostatistics, and prevention research from 1983-86, earning a Masters in Public Health in 1984.

Allen also worked as a Senior Environmental Epidemiologist with the U.S. government. She published numerous reports and studies on breast cancer and environmental risk, women's health, geographic patterns of cancer, risk assessment and pesticides.

Allen was a community leader for Reston Baha'i Community and a singer with the Metropolitan DC Baha'i Chorale and the Art of Living NOVA Ashram Bhajan Singers.