A young man is shot in his home during a robbery attempt
On a rainy April afternoon in 2003, the life of 21-year-old Bryan Michael Mace, a Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in what investigators believe was a burglary gone horribly wrong. Earlier that day, on April 9th, Bryan had walked to a local video store in Midland, Virginia. This seemingly ordinary errand would be his last. When his stepfather, Carlo Bertelli, arrived at their rural Fauquier County home on Elk Run Road to pick him up for a roofing job, he was met with a scene of unimaginable horror.
Unable to reach Bryan on his cell phone, Carlo found the garage door leading into the house unresponsive. After gaining entry through another door, he was immediately engulfed by thick, black smoke. Fearing Bryan was trapped inside, Carlo rushed into the smoke-filled home and stumbled upon his stepson's body. He managed to drag Bryan out into the garage, where the devastating reality became clear: Bryan had been shot in the head.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, the full scope of the crime began to emerge. The house had been thoroughly ransacked, with closets turned inside out and mattresses flipped over. An autopsy would later confirm that Bryan had died from a gunshot wound. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set, with Bryan's own body being the point of origin, in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Because the house was sealed, the fire was starved of oxygen and thankfully did not consume the entire structure. A large and valuable gun collection belonging to his stepfather, along with hunting gear and video games, had been stolen. The sheer volume of stolen items led police to suspect that more than one person was involved in the robbery and murder.
Despite a thorough investigation into the brutal slaying, no suspects have ever been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Bryan Mace. The firearm used to kill him was not from his stepfather's collection. Law enforcement officials have theorized that the perpetrators were watching the home and broke in after Bryan left for the video store. They believe Bryan returned home unexpectedly, interrupting the burglary in progress, which ultimately led to his murder. Years have passed, yet the case remains cold, leaving a family shattered by loss and still searching for answers and justice for Bryan.
