Jury finds man guilty of involuntary manslaughter

Only two people know exactly what happened inside a house in the 6400 block of Davis Ford Road on July 1.

One, James Dale Stephenson, is dead.

The other, Ryan James Stephenson, his son, was charged with killing him.

After deliberating for close to six hours Monday, a jury found Ryan Stephenson, 23, guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

During his testimony last week, Ryan Stephenson described the fight that led to his father's death.

He said his father came to his room on the morning of July 1 to confront him about chores he had not done.

"He said I'd been being inconsiderate," Ryan Stephenson said in his testimony.

What began as a verbal argument soon escalated when his father hit him, Ryan Stephenson said.

From there the fight went into the hallway.

James Stephenson went to his room and Ryan Stephenson followed, to see if the fight was over, he said.

There his father again attempted to hit him and Ryan Stephenson put him in a headlock so he could not hit him, he said.

Ryan Stephenson held his father in the headlock for at least 30 seconds before he noticed he wasn't breathing, he said.

"He stopped grabbing me and that's when I looked and saw his face was discolored," he said.

Ryan Stephenson said he then "immediately called 911" and started CPR, following the 911 dispatcher's instructions.

His father later died at Prince William Hospital.

The medical examiner said James Stephenson, 46, died of strangulation.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kristina Robinson argued that the events of that day did not take place the way Ryan Stephenson told them.

She said that when James Stephenson left the hallway and went into his room, he was fleeing from his son's attack.

"James made the choice to retreat. He made the choice to say, 'That's it'," Robinson said.

James Stephenson placed a call to 911 about three minutes before his son did.

On that call, no one speaks to the operator, but sounds of struggle can be heard in the background.

Robinson argued that Ryan Stephenson's voice can also be heard on the tape, saying "die."

Ryan Stephenson testified that he never said "die." He said he asked his father "Are you done yet?"

Robinson argued that Stephenson wanted to kill his father.

"He wrapped his arms around his neck and he choked the very life out of him," she said.

On the witness stand, Stephenson said he did not want his father to die.

When sentenced, Stephenson faces up to 10 years in prison.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.