UPDATE: A formal press release from MPD has been added to the bottom of this post. 4-26-12, 5:24 p.m.
Since Denver man Gary Dederichs was found dead of head trauma in Northwest DC Tuesday evening, two more people have been been found with serious head injuries near where Dederichs was found, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said Thursday afternoon.
Those people, a 53-year-old male and an adult female, remain hospitalized.
A press conference was held this afternoon; Lanier also submitted the following message to the Fourth District listserv:
Within the past 48 hours there have been 3 separate incidents in which individuals have been assaulted and suffered head trauma. While we have not definitively linked these incidents there are several similarities that give cause to consider that possibility.
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This Comment of the Day comes from Jacquie Spano who wrote about Rodney Bean:
I lived on Rodney’s street and knew him as an 8 year old boy. He was a wonderful kid; sweet, funny, super smart, loved him. I loved hanging out with him and his brother, and even though I only knew him for a year, he stayed with me through memories. Recently, I thought about him and looked up him up online. My heart broke to find out what happened to him and he looks almost identical to when he was a boy. There’s nothing I can do except keep his memory in my heart.
The first full day of jury deliberations on the South Capitol case is expected to begin today, after attorneys for both sides wrapped up their closing arguments late yesterday afternoon.
The jury will decide whether five men are guilty in the March 2010 fatal shootings of five people under age 20.
Prosecuting attorney Bruce Hegyi has urged the jury to focus on the testimony of Nathaniel Simms, who has admitted to participating in the shootings and agreed to testify in exchange for lesser charges of second-degree murder. Defense attorney Robert Acree told the jury to question Simms’s testimony, saying he lied on the witness stand.
Here is an updated look back at key moments in the case.
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Judge Thomas Motley on Wednesday found substantial probability for the first-degree murder charge against Raymond Faunteroy.
Faunteroy, 26, is accused in the shooting death of nineteen-year-old Derrick Ragland.
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At a hearing today, Albrecht Muth, 47, a Georgetown man accused of first-degree murder in the death of his wife Viola Drath, 91, was found to be incompetent to stand trial because of mental health disorders. But the report from Saint Elizabeth’s left open the possibility that Muth could become competent before his October trial date.
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A man found dead of apparent trauma Tuesday evening in Northwest DC has been identified as Gary Dederichs, a 66-year old Denver, Colorado man.
Dederichs was a registered user with travel site Airbnb, which connects travelors with those willing to host them. His profile shows that he used the service at least three times including in Paris. One host wrote of his stay:
He was an amazing guest like a gift :)) Very kind, friendly and definitely has a kind of humour. Very respectful to the flat, environment and me 🙂 highlt recommended to every host.
Dederichs wrote of himself:
Hello,
My name is Gary, I’m a retired ,neat, quiet gentleman. I’ve used Airbnb twice before and had great experience’s. I’m interested in learning about different culture’s and looking forward to my stay in Istanbul.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Gary
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Meeko Carraway was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for his role in the shooting death of 29-year-old Darrel Hendy.
Just what Carraway’s role was though isn’t clear; the statement of facts about the case which he made to the court as part of his plea deal remains under seal and neither prosecutors, defense attorneys, nor Carraway himself made any statements at sentencing.
Cararaway was one of three men ultimately charged in Hendy’s death: Carraway pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed; the others, Corey Yates and Chamontae Walker, are scheduled for trial in July on a charge of first-degree murder.
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A man found unconscious with signs of trauma in Northwest DC Tuesday evening died of his injuries, and MPD is investigating the death as a homicide.
From the Fourth District’s Kimberly Chisley-Missouri:
Just before 6:30pm, units received a call for an unconscious subject in the 800 blk of Emerson St NW. Upon arrival, an unconscious adult male was located with signs of trauma. The male has been pronounced. This case is being investigated by the Homicide Branch. I will keep the community updated with details as they become available. Please call 1-888-919-CRIME if you have any information.
Updated with additional links at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The seven men convicted of the brutal 1984 H Street murder of Catherine Fuller were in court today, the first day of a hearing on new evidence which they hope may set them free.
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“Call me boots and the fight started.”
“Marines control me and my brain.”
“You start with me and I’m going to defend myself.”
“He was talking s*** so I stabbed him.”
“He punched me in my face, so I stabbed him.”
“Good, I hope he dies.”
“I stabbed him because he punched me in the head. There were two of them. I was defending myself.”
These were among the statements attributed to U.S. Marine Michael Poth Monday at his presentment on a charge of second-degree murder while armed.
Poth, 20, is suspected of fatally stabbing fellow Marine Philip Bushong early on Saturday morning on Barracks Row in Southeast DC.
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