Pigeon-toed ‘person of interest’ wanted in 2020 Arlington murder

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — More than four years after police found a man murdered in his apartment in the Ballston area of Arlington County, detectives said they were looking for the person or people responsible for the killing.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) said officers found Scott Ratigan, 24, inside the bedroom of his home at AVA Ballston Square on Jan. 17, 2020. One of Ratigan’s family members went to the apartment building, located in the 800 block of North Randolph Street, to check on him because relatives had not heard from Ratigan.

Police said there was clear trauma to Ratigan’s body. Evidence indicated that the person or people responsible for Ratigan’s death tried to clean the apartment, possibly with bleach, before leaving it.

In January 2021, a year after Ratigan’s killing, ACPD released surveillance video recorded by an exterior camera that showed a “person of interest” leaving the area around the time of Ratigan’s murder.

The person stood approximately 5’6″ to 5’8″ tall, weighed roughly 150 to 175 lbs., was dressed entirely in black, and carried a black backpack. Police said the most distinctive characteristic of the person was a pigeon-toed walk, meaning their feet pointed inwards.

In October 2021, the Ratigan Family increased the reward it offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Ratigan’s killing from $25,000 to $50,000.

The Arlington County Police Department asked that anyone with information related to the case contact its Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us. People also are able to provide information anonymously through Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

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