Two found dead in Fauquier private pond

An Upperville man and a woman from Great Falls drowned in a private pond in northern Fauquier County Sunday evening, according to Lt. Col. Paul Mercer of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.

Anthony E. Thomas, 44, and Catherine M. Burke, 55, were found dead in the 1500 block of Rokeby Road, about a mile south of U.S. 50 between Upperville and Atoka.

In a press release Monday afternoon, Mercer said the canoe they were in capsized.

Mercer added that Thomas lived on Rokeby Road but did not provide an address. Online records only show Thomas as having a post office box in Upperville.

An e-mail to Fauquier County Sheriff Charlie Ray Fox, Jr. was not immediately returned, and it is unclear if the canoe was located on Thomas’ property or if the incident is classified as suspicious.

Rescue calls were dispatched Sunday around 12:10 p.m.

The incident is still under investigation.

Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad assisted with the recovery.