GROVETON, Va. — The family of a man stabbed to death near a bus stop in Groveton last year said they’re disappointed and angry that prosecutors decided not to pursue the second-degree murder case against the suspect.

Fairfax County Police say Marvin Waters, 32, was found with several stab wounds near the bus stop at Richmond Highway and North Kings Highway in June 2025. Detectives allege Robert Reed, 57, was responsible.

Court documents stated surveillance video captured Reed chasing after Waters. Investigators added that cameras also recorded Reed fleeing on a bus with what appeared to be blood on his hands and hoodie. When Reed was apprehended days later, he was still wearing the same pants on the same day as the murder, according to the criminal complaint.

Months after his death, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office chose to drop the murder charge against Reed, citing a lack of evidence to support a prosecution. Through the process, Reed has chosen to represent himself.

“It left a bad taste in my mouth,” said William Dunn, Waters’ uncle. “I try not to pull the feeling of anger or anything like that because I don’t want to have those as my last memories of the things that I have memories with Marvin. But I have to be honest, those feelings seeped in immediately when I found out this wasn’t going to move forward.”

Prosecutors stated the video evidence did not explicitly show the act of stabbing and that the knife recovered lacked DNA evidence. They also cited uncooperative or missing witnesses.

“Video captured events surrounding the stabbing, but the stabbing itself was not visible,” Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Kelsey Gill said in her motion. “The individual’s clothing is visible but no identifying features can be discerned.”

Gill said following a multitude of items sent to the lab for testing, including the knife and other items belonging to Reed, “all of those items were found to not contain any blood or other DNA evidence whatsoever.”

“Why is this not enough to try a case when the actual suspect wants to represent himself? Dunn questioned. “I thought that the prosecution attorney would definitely have enough experience to go up against someone representing himself.”

Waters’ former girlfriend Patricia Simpkins, who remained close with him throughout the years, said she traveled to Fairfax County to help collect information last year. She too is disappointed that the murder case failed to move forward.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Simpkins said. “I have my reservations as far as to what limits and to what extent have they gone to in order to really figure out what was going on.”

Detectives preliminarily believed an altercation occurred between the suspect and the victim at the bus stop, and that this was an isolated incident. The family is unsure of the motive behind the stabbing.

They said he was in between housing when he was killed. Reed, who was unhoused, still faces charges for possession with intent to distribute Schedule I/II drugs after police say he was found with baggies of cocaine and fentanyl during his interview.

Meanwhile, loved ones are remembering Waters as encouraging and free-spirited.

“He was just a gentle soul, hard worker, and no matter what he was going through, he always had a kind word,” Dunn said. “He was so open and joyful and willing to explore new things,” added Simpkins. “His future was extremely bright and I’m sad that he was not able to bring forth his goal.”