Woodbridge Man Pleads Guilty in Wife's 2013 Slaying

A former marine accused of strangling his wife and dumping her body in the Occoquan River in August entered a surprise guilty plea Monday as his trial was set to begin in Fairfax County.

Caleb Crew, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of his 31-year-old wife, Andrea Crew, as evidence was being submitted at the start of his trial.

Prosecution is expected to continue presenting evidence against Crew Tuesday. Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney said the plea came as a surprise since no plea deals have been offered.

Andrea Crew’s body was found in August after her husband reported her missing.

Lingan said the couple broke into a dispute shortly after Andrea Crew agreed to drop a domestic abuse charge against Caleb on Aug. 7, 2013. In a taped interview with police, Crew admitted to strangling his wife inside a car in the parking lot of a Fairfax County Credit Union following the domestic dispute. He then disposed of her body in Springfield.

Later that night while his children were sleeping, Crew retrieved his wife’s body. He then strapped a backpack filled with dumbbells and pieces of granite to Andrea Crew’s body before dumping her into the Occoquan River along I-95 on the Fairfax-Prince William county line.

Crew initially told investigators she had gone missing after the dispute but later admitted to killing her.

Crew, a Woodbridge native, served as a Marine in Afghanistan. Police were previously called to the couple’s Fairfax residence in July 2013 after Caleb Crew reportedly poured motor oil on his wife’s head during a domestic dispute.

His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Also see:

• Medical Examiner: Andrea Crew Was Strangled to Death
• Husband Charged with Murder After Wife’s Body Found in Occoquan River
• Body of Alexandria Woman Found in River; Husband Charged