DE DE - Sheila Doyle, 66, Bethany Beach, 15 Jun 2020

[jmnorman]

Missing Virginia woman Sheila Doyle believed dead, Delaware State Police say

Delaware State Police are looking for a Fairfax, Virginia, woman who detectives believe was killed by her 35-year-old son earlier this month, possibly near Bethany Beach.

Sheila Doyle, 66, was last seen at her summer home in the Salt Pond subdivision on June 15 at about 1 p.m., police said. At the time, she was with her son, Brian Doyle.

Police have not elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Sheila's disappearance, but said "at this point in the investigation," she's believed to be dead and Brian, who was found dead, is the suspect.

A Gold Alert issued by state police several days after Sheila was last seen said she was supposed to arrive back at her Fairfax home on June 16, but never made it. A news release posted by Fairfax County, Virginia, police that same day said her car was found near a park in Alexandria, Virginia.

Brian was seen driving around Delaware a day after his mother went missing, police said. He stopped several places, including:

• Primehook Road, east of Milton.
• Route 113 in Milford.
• Middle Run Valley Nature Area, north of Newark.
• White Clay Creek State Park, north of Newark.

On June 17, Fairfax County police found Brian dead. Police have not said how he died or where he was found.

In addition to searching for Sheila, Delaware State Police said Monday they are also looking for an 8-by-10-foot rug that is missing from her Bethany Beach home.

Anyone who may have information that can help the investigation or who may know the location of Sheila's body is asked to contact Detective Daniel Grassi at (302) 365-8441.
Delaware police searching for Virginia woman believed killed by son

 

[Wild Rose]

Oh this poor woman. She could be in one of the massive tidal marshes. As the tide goes in and out, oh my gosh. This area is wide open, even places on the ocean beach you are not even allowed on to protect nature. She may be very hard to find. Massive dredging took place to repair damage to the marsh. Very sad, such a peaceful place.

 

[ADKGemini]

Ugh...picture of rug they are looking for:
Delaware police searching for Virginia woman believed killed by son

 

[jmnorman]

I find it really interesting that someone noticed the rug was missing. I wonder if the police noticed a spot on the floor that was obviously usually covered with a rug due to lack of dust/discoloration etc. OR if someone close to her who is familiar with the house let the police know they noticed the rug missing??

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

This is sad, just wanted to pop in and say I work in a building at White Clay Creek State Park and there is A LOT of police activity in there as we speak. For comparison, I've never seen even one police officer in the park area.

 

[Vail]

This is sad, just wanted to pop in and say I work in a building at White Clay Creek State Park and there is A LOT of police activity in there as we speak. For comparison, I've never seen even one police officer in the park area.

Since that was the last place the son was seen, I'm guessing they found him dead by suicide in the park and she is in the Middle Run Valley Nature Area somewhere near where a car can go - I doubt her dragged her very far if she was rolled in a rug.

 

[mlhenn]

As son is found dead, Police now believe Virginia woman missing since June 15 is deceased - Delaware Newsline

A mysterious missing person case has turned for the worst as police say the search for Sheila Doyle of Fairfax, Va continues. Police found her son deceased in Fairfax, Virginia two days after Sheila was reported missing.


Although Brian is deceased, he was also the suspect in her disappearance., according to police. Fairfax Virginia Police Department found his body on June 17, 2020, exactly two days following her disappearance. Detectives now believe that Sheila is also deceased and are trying to locate her body.

Investigators know that Brian made stops at Primehook Road, east of Milton, US Route 113 in Milford, Middle Run Valley Nature Area, north of Newark, White Clay Creek State Park, north of Newark

If anyone has information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Detective Daniel Grassi at (302) 365-8441. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

 

[mlhenn]

Sheila Rae Doyle – The Charley Project

Casefile added July 2021


Details of Disappearance
Sheila was last seen at her summer home in the Salt Pond subdivision of Bethany Beach, Delaware at 1:00 p.m. on June 15, 2020. She was supposed to return to her Fairfax, Virginia home on June 16, but never arrived there and has never been heard from again. That same day, her car was found near a park in Alexandria, Virginia. It's a black 2020 Buick Enclave with the Virginia license plate number UKZ7235; a photo of a similar car is posted with this case summary.

Investigators believe Sheila was murdered by her 35-year-old son, Brian Doyle, who is the last person known to have seen her. A photo of him is posted with this case summary. He was found deceased on June 17, two days after his mother's disappearance. Investigators haven't said how he died or where his body was found.

The day before his death, Brian had driven around Delaware and stopped at several places, including Primehook Road east of Milton, Route 113 in Milford, and the Middle Run Valley Nature Area and White Clay Creek State Park, both of which are north of Newark.

An eight-by-ten-foot rug is missing from Sheila's Bethany Beach residence, and investigators are hoping to locate it. A photo of the rug is posted with this case summary. It has a white pattern of leaves and stems.

Sheila's case remains unsolved. Both Delaware and Virginia police are investigating.