The Case of Matthew and Elizabeth Skarlatos vs. Fairfax County

Local media involved -

https://wjla.com/news/local/7-on-your-side-families-divided

https://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/police-can-seize-heirlooms-in-family-disputes

The initial media story "Families Divided" followed the Judge's determination in the Spring 2018 on the conditions for the Skarlatos children's visitation rights to see their own father after reporting his abuse and neglect to State agencies which were ignored and then punished by Paul Skarlatos guardian(s).

This was in fact the only reasons for the police's involvement just 6 weeks after the the story aired. The second news story "police can seize heirlooms in family disputes" was completed by the same news organization just 2 weeks after the Fairfax County Police's involvement. My sister and I were informed by WJLA that they had never seen the police used in a familial property dispute with the defendant(s) in this case having no criminal records prior to the unlawful search and seizure by the Fairfax County police and with the plaintiff the only witness using the media story as evidence which formed the basis for the affidavit.

The warrant(s) for search and seizure with arrests had only a magistrate's authorization with no corresponding Judge identified which the news organization said they had never seen before. This was also corroborated through a number of attorneys our family spoke with.

We were told by WJLA that this was unprecedented in it's use and latitude by "any" court which is why they immediately did the second story just 6 weeks later. Telling us that it had the potential of changing the dynamics of the media's role in the future with severe legal implications as a result of the court and police's action(s). This and more importantly the facts surrounding the nature of our father's death less than two weeks after the police raid which was highly suspicious and unexpected.