Ricky Edwards, 61, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and pronounced dead at 5:11 p.m. He had been held without bond since July 18 on a misdemeanor trespassing charge.

Edwards' death marks the second time in five days that a person has died in the custody of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, bringing the total number of in-custody deaths at the facility to 19 since 2018.

Deputies announced a medical emergency after finding Edwards unresponsive, according to a sheriff's office press release issued Aug. 13. On-site medical personnel and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded with lifesaving efforts.

Edwards did not survive.

The sheriff's office said there is no indication of foul play and the death appears to be from natural causes. An autopsy will be performed in accordance with office policy.

The Fairfax County Police Department is investigating, as required by Virginia law and sheriff's office policy. Police identified Edwards by name and age; the sheriff's office had not done so in its release. FCPD has not issued a separate public statement about the investigation.

Edwards had been charged with violating a trespass order under Virginia Code § 18.2-119, a misdemeanor carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine upon conviction. Court records show the Fairfax County Public Defender's Office represented him. He was arraigned July 20 and had a progress review scheduled for Sept. 8, according to FFXnow.

The detention center, located in the city of Fairfax, holds people from across the county including McLean and Great Falls.

The first in-custody death of 2026 occurred Aug. 9, when an unidentified inmate who had been hospitalized and placed on hospice care died at approximately 2:45 a.m. The sheriff's office said at the time that the inmate had been transferred to a hospital earlier in the year for specialized treatment beyond what the detention center could provide.

Virginia law requires that all inmate deaths be reported to the state Board of Local and Regional Jails to assess whether future deaths can be prevented.

FFXnow reported that neither the Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office nor the Public Defender's Office had responded to its requests for comment as of its Aug. 14 publication.

The Board of Supervisors Safety and Security Committee, which oversees police, sheriff and fire matters, is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 22 at the Fairfax County Government Center. No agenda has been posted.