A Virginia mother is leading a rapidly growing effort to remove the Democrat prosecutor she blames for leaving her daughter’s accused killer free to attack. More than 12,000 people have signed a petition seeking the recall of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. The campaign was launched after 41-year-old Stephanie Minter was stabbed to death while waiting at a bus stop. Her mother, Cheryl Minter, says the killing could have been prevented.
Stephanie Minter was found with multiple stab wounds at a Fairfax County bus shelter on February 23rd. Authorities charged Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old illegal alien from Sierra Leone, with her murder. Jalloh had accumulated more than 30 arrests before the killing, while prosecutors dismissed numerous charges filed against him. Police had also repeatedly warned Descano’s office about the danger Jalloh posed.
Cheryl Minter launched the recall campaign with the Victims Rights Reform Council, arguing that Descano’s handling of repeat offenders placed Fairfax County residents in danger. She told Fox News Digital that her daughter would still be alive “had they actually prosecuted these people.” Minter described Stephanie as her only daughter and said the campaign is meant to spare another family the same loss.
As Fox News reported, Jalloh’s record included convictions for malicious wounding, identity theft, trespassing, and assault, along with a previous forcible rape charge. Some of his prior cases resulted in convictions and jail time, while prosecutors dropped others. Descano, who received significant campaign support from the Soros family’s Justice and Public Safety PAC, has made reducing incarceration and ending cash bail major parts of his agenda.
The recall petition points to more than 30 arrests and over 40 criminal charges involving Jalloh, including allegations of rape, malicious wounding, assault, and previous stabbings. “Thirty times the system had a chance to stop him. Thirty times,” Minter wrote. She added, “I think about that every single day. This was not an unavoidable tragedy. It was the predictable consequence of decisions made by Descano.”
Minter argued that her daughter’s case is part of a larger pattern involving repeat offenders who received lenient treatment in Fairfax County. She accused Descano of putting ideology ahead of public safety and allowing dangerous perpetrators to return to the streets. “Stephanie cannot speak for herself anymore. So I am,” she wrote. “Every family in Fairfax County deserves better. Stephanie deserved better.”
The online petition shows the growing opposition to Descano, although Virginia’s formal recall process requires more steps. Organizers have to collect valid signatures from registered voters residing in Fairfax County equal to 10% of the votes cast in the prosecutor’s most recent election. Then they have to file a detailed petition establishing legal grounds for removal and prove by clear and convincing evidence in circuit court that removal is warranted.
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Descano’s office responded by confirming that prosecutors are now pursuing the murder case against Jalloh. Spokeswoman Laura Birnbaum said the office is “prosecuting Abdul Jalloh for the murder of Ms. Minter.” She added that Jalloh was recently indicted and that his trial is scheduled for January 2027, but said the office could not comment further while the prosecution remains active.
Minter said she hopes the effort reaches beyond Fairfax County and sends a message to other prosecutors pursuing similar policies. “This isn’t just localized,” she said. “It’s important for so many states and so many cities.” Minter said that her solution for repeat offenders is simple: “Either [the criminal] does his time, or he gets out of here, and he doesn’t come back.”
The grieving mother said memories of Stephanie continue to drive her efforts even as she struggles with losing her only daughter. She believes Stephanie would have supported the effort to prevent another family from experiencing the same loss. “Her heart would want this to happen,” Minter said. “If it happened to one of her friends or somebody she knew or even didn’t … That keeps me going enough to keep pushing forward.”