Claim via Social Media
A viral TikTok video claimed that the man suspected of murdering a South African-born woman in Virginia came to the U.S. as a refugee in spring 2025, under Donald Trump’s second administration.
Explanation
The suspect, Alexander Towne, is a U.S. citizen, not a recent refugee. The victim, Kim White Towne, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, moved to the U.S. in August 2023. The two met in Dubai, married in 2021, and settled in the U.S. before Trump’s second presidency.
Kim’s brother, Jason White, directly refuted the claim via Facebook Messenger, confirming Towne’s American citizenship. Multiple credible outlets, including South African news agencies, also identified Towne as “her American husband.”
On May 24, 2025, Fairfax County Police reported a domestic-related homicide. Towne was arrested and charged with second-degree murder the next day.
The video falsely tied the murder to recent refugee resettlements from South Africa, a claim unsupported by any evidence and refuted by the victim’s family and court records.
Conclusion
Fact or Fiction? Fiction. The murder suspect is an American citizen, not a South African refugee. The claim is entirely baseless.
Read More
Lead Stories: Fact Check – Virginia Murder Suspect Not South African Refugee
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