*Strasburg Police: Woman died from self-inflicted gunshot wound

By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- Town police found a missing Fairfax County woman dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday morning near the Fairfield Inn.

Maggie Ryan, 56, of the 4700 block of Marymeade Drive in Fairfax, had been missing since Jan. 9, police said.

A vehicle found at the Fairfield Friday was confirmed as belonging to her, which led authorities to begin a search of the area, according to Police Chief Tim Sutherly.

Sutherly said that Ryan had been classified as missing and endangered, and that a canine unit was dispatched in search of her.

Sutherly said the search was called off at 8 p.m. Friday but resumed Saturday morning. An officer found the body at about 11:30 a.m., he said.

"We located her in a washed up gully, snow-covered, about 200 yards in behind the Fairfield Inn," Sutherly said.

Ryan appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Sutherly said. Her body will be taken to the medical examiner's office in Prince William County so an autopsy can be performed, Sutherly said.

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