Fairfax County man convicted in 1998 stabbing death granted parole over family's opposition

The Virginia Parole Board has granted parole to Troy Demar, who was convicted of second-degree murder in Fairfax County, according to the board's September 2026 decisions report.

The board's September report lists Demar, 53, as granted discretionary parole, with a decision date of Sept. 10 and certification on Sept. 14. His only listed conviction is second-degree murder in Fairfax County Circuit Court, with a judgment dated Jan. 8, 1999, and a 40-year sentence with no time suspended. The report estimates he has served 28 years, 4 months and 22 days. The approved minutes say he was considered for both discretionary parole and geriatric conditional release.

WJLA 7News reported on Sept. 14 that, according to authorities in 1998, Christine Allen was found stabbed to death at the Fairfax County home she shared with Demar. Demar testified that he did not kill Allen, but the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and recommended the maximum sentence, the station reported. A Washington Examiner opinion column published Sept. 24 noted that Allen's daughter was 3 months old at the time. At the hearing, Demar told the board, "I'm asking the parole board to see me as going on 54 years old compared to being 25. I'm not the same person," according to WJLA.

Prior and repeat offenses: No other convictions appear in Demar's September board record, and members cited "no previous felony convictions" and "no history of substance abuse." Members also said he had been infraction-free since incarceration.

The board's stated reasons: The board's listed reasons included insight into the factors that drove the criminal behavior, improved coping and decision-making skills, reduced dynamic risk factors, demonstrated rehabilitation, a low risk-assessment score, emotional and behavioral stability, consistent adherence to rules, consistently positive staff reports, participation in correctional and vocational programs, educational advancement, faith-based or community programs, clear acceptance of responsibility, strong work-assignment performance, a stable release plan and excellent institutional adjustment. The board also concluded he had served enough time.

The Sept. 10 minutes record a 4-0 vote. Three immediate family members of the victim shared statements opposing parole, and Victim Services Coordinator Cindy Yadav read a statement from the victim's daughter. One sister told the board, "He should have to do 40 years because my sister never got to see 40," WJLA reported. A board member responded, "I recognize the strong opposition to Mr. Demar's release on parole, but he has done everything that he's required to do," and another said he had done "more programming than most of the inmates we see or read about," according to the station.

How the decision was made: At the Sept. 10 meeting, held in person and electronically at the board's offices on Atmore Drive in Richmond, each candidate addressed the board by teleconference after a summary of victim input, and Chair Shannon Dion then called on each member to vote and state reasons, according to the minutes, which the board approved on Oct. 1. The September report notes that the offenses it lists include all offenses for which a person has been serving time, whether or not they are parole-eligible.

Crime trends in Fairfax County: According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services report "Virginia Index Crime and Drug Arrest Trends 2016-2025," published in August 2026 using Virginia State Police crime repository data, Fairfax County recorded 117.3 violent index crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, compared with 103.1 in 2016, up 14% over the decade. Its property crime rate was 1,470.0 per 100,000 in 2025, compared with 1,351.0 in 2016, up 9%. Statewide, DCJS reported 210.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, down 7% from 2024 and 14% from 2023; the median rate among Virginia's counties and independent cities was 172.9. DCJS notes that the repository receives rolling updates, so the rates may be revised.

Across September, the board decided 85 parole cases and granted 7, according to its monthly decisions report, a grant rate of about 8.2% for the month, down from about 32% (14 of 44) in August. It denied the other 78. Separately, it decided four parole-violation cases, revoking parole in two, continuing parole in one and discharging one person from supervision. All seven grants were voted on at the board's Sept. 10 meeting, with four members present; Board Member Kevin White was absent, according to the approved minutes. All five current board members were appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on March 4, 2026, and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Parole in Virginia is supervised release: the board sets conditions and can revoke parole and return a person to prison for violations, as it did in two revocation cases in September. The board's report does not give a release date or say where Demar will live.

Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Fairfax, an independent city.

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.

Email Abigail Spanberger at:
abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov