The Virginia man who killed his landlady and hid her body in Fairfax County has been sentenced to decades in prison, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano revealed.
Brian George Sayrs, Jr., 28, a Woodbridge resident, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for the murder of Emily Lu, 72, in 2021.
According to officials, Sayrs faces a total of 40 years in prison, with 17 years suspended for murder and two years for hiding a dead corpse.
According to prosecutors, on June 4, 2021, Lu’s manager notified the Fairfax County Police Department that she had failed to report for work, “which was unusual.”
Her car was discovered that day parked in her Lorton driveway, having been last seen shopping at Aldi on Godron Plaza in Woodbridge the day before.
There was a news conference at the time.
The Fairfax County Police Department
For the next seven weeks, authorities looked for Lu but were unable to find her.
Sayrs, who rented a room in Lu’s Lorton house, first spoke with investigators days after her disappearance, but it was later discovered that he lied to detectives about her movements, making him the primary suspect in the case.
Sayrs confessed to investigators about two months later, on July 23, 2021, and admitted to the crime.
He then led them to a forested spot miles from Lu’s home, where they discovered her decaying remains near Dudley Drive and Laurel Crest Drive in Lorton.
Sayrs pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and hiding a body on August 21, 2023, but has failed to explain the circumstances surrounding her death.
“While we may never know the details of this tragic incident, we do know that today, the person responsible for Lu’s murder will finally be held accountable for his actions,” Descano said in a statement.
“My heart breaks for Ms. Lu’s family and for the members of our community who tirelessly searched for her for nearly two months.”
