Stephanie Lawson | Homicide Watch DC

Stephanie Lawson Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison

Dana Jennings — Sat, 31 May 2014 10:13:24 -0400

Stephanie Lawson was sentenced Friday to 33 months in prison for the stabbing death of her friend, Karen Jordan.

But before she begins her sentence she'll spend three weeks on high-intensity supervision while she finishes an externship program. Attorneys in the case declined to say what type of program she is participating in, but did say that she is expecting to work 40-hour work weeks to complete her 200 hour program.

Lawson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the case.

The proffer of facts stated that Lawson was playing cards and drinking alcohol with friends on August 27, 2011 when Jordan arrived and the two began arguing over a debt.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed that Jordan was the aggressor and was threatening Lawson before Lawson took out a knife and stabbed Jordan in the neck once. Jordan lost consciousness and was pronounced dead later that night at the hospital.

"The madness of intoxication clouded everyone's judgement," said O'Connell, who told the court that money that started the argument was for cocaine that had been purchased the day before.

Prosecutors recommended that she be sentenced to four years in prison, but Judge Rhonda Winston ruled that a shorter sentence was fair.

"This happened in your house and you were afraid," Winston explained, "But Karen Jordan's life had value. She didn't deserve to die."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward O'Connell told the court that he was the only one present Friday to speak on Jordan's behalf.

"She had loved ones, problems, and aspirations just like all of us," said O'Connell, "Stephanie Lawson is a good person, but in 2011, she stabbed and killed another person, and she has to account for that."

Winston ordered Lawson to be in home confinement when she is not at her externship, to have an ankle monitor while she is released, and to turn herself in on June 20 to begin serving her sentence.

Stephanie Lawson Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Death of Karen Jordan

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:03:16 -0500

Stephanie Lawson, 44, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Karen Jordan on August 27, 2011.

Lawson faces up to 30 years in prison. She was initially charged with first-degree murder.

In a preliminary hearing held in October 2011, prosecutors argued that Lawson stabbed Jordan in an argument over a $20 debt while she was at Jordan's apartment playing cards.

According to the proffer of facts, on August 27, 2011 at approximately 9:40 p.m., Lawson went Jordan’s apartment with her boyfriend. Along with Jordan's significant other, the four played cards and drank alcohol.

At some point, Lawson and Jordan got into a “heated” argument that ended with Lawson stabbing Jordan once in the neck. Jordan had no weapon at the time. Documents say that Lawson later told police Jordan threatened to kill her.

“[Lawson] felt threatened and grabbed a knife," Lawson's defense attorney said at Friday's hearing. "When [Jordan] came at her in a menacing manner she stabbed her in the neck.”

In accepting the plea, Judge Rhonda Winston said the use of a knife was excessive under the circumstances.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 16. Lawson will remain in home confinement until the hearing.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Stephanie Lawson Plea Docs (PDF)Stephanie Lawson Plea Docs (Text)

Stephanie Lawson Pleads Innocent to First-Degree Murder Charge in Karen Jordan's Stabbing

Rebecca Zisser — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:18:44 -0400

Stephanie Lawson pled innocent on Friday to a charge of first-degree murder while armed in the stabbing death of Karen Jordan.

Lawson was originally arrested under suspicion of second-degree murder.

At a preliminary hearing, MPD Detective Norma Horne said Lawson, Jordan and each of their significant others were drinking heavily at Lawson’s home on the night of the stabbing. When Jordan asked her girlfriend for ten dollars, and received it, it enraged Lawson because Jordan owed Lawson twenty dollars.

The argument ended when Lawson went to the kitchen, took a knife, and stabbed Jordan in the throat, Horne said.

Lawson told detectives that Jordan had threatened to kill her and she was afraid for her life.

She is expected back in court for a status hearing on June 22. A trial date has not been set.

Fight over $20 Debt led to Karen Jordan's Death, Detective Says

Laura Amico — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:54:59 -0400

Bloody glass, bloody carpet, bloddy slippers and a bloody ten-dollar bill.

That's what detectives found at Stephanie Lawson's home late at night on August 27, 2011.

At a preliminary hearing Thursday, Detective Norma Horne narrowed in on that $10 bill. It was the reason, police believe, that Lawson stabbed, and killed, Karen Jordan, Horne said.

Judge Gerald Fisher found "substantial probability" that Lawson committed the offense of second-degree murder.

Horne told the court that Lawson, Jordan and each of their significant others were drinking heavily at Lawson's home. When Jordan asked her girlfriend for ten dollars, and received it, it enraged Lawson because Jordan owed Lawson twenty dollars.

The argument ended when Lawson went to the kitchen, took a knife, and stabbed Jordan in the throat, Horne said.

Lawson's defense attorney, Lauren Bernstein, argued that Lawson told police that she thought her life was in danger, that Jordan's girlfriend is not a reliable witness, and that Lawson, when she realized what had happened, had tried to help Jordan by calling 911.

Trying to keep Lawson from remaining jailed, Bernstein told the court that Lawson was scared and unhappy in jail but was trying to make the best of it. She's working on a cleaning crew, on a wait-list for computer literacy courses, and is mentoring other inmates, many of whom are younger than Lawson, 44. Her sister and pastor were in court. Bernstein said Lawson was needed at home to care for her son.

Judge Gerald Fisher declined to release Lawson, but left the possibility of her release open by telling Bernstein that she could submit a written proposal with conditions of release for consideration.

Preliminary Hearing in Case Against Stephanie Lawson Delayed

Laura Amico — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:30:47 -0400

A preliminary hearing scheduled for this morning in the case against Stephanie Lawson was rescheduled for Oct. 6.

Lawson is suspected in the fatal stabbing of Karen Jordan on Aug. 27.

Woman Charged in Fatal Stabbing Had Court Order to Stay Away from Victim

Laura Amico — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:26:38 -0400

The woman suspected of fatally stabbing Karen Jordan in a Northeast D.C. apartment on Saturday evening had been ordered by the court to stay away from her while awaiting trial for assaulting her.

Stephanie Lawson appeared in DC Superior Court Monday to be presented with a charge of second-degree murder in connection with Jordan's death. Finding substantial probability, the court ordered Lawson held pending a preliminary hearing.

According to charging documents in the case, Lawson, Jordan and another person were all together in Lawson's 16th Street Northeast apartment on Saturday evening. Lawson said all three had been drinking when Jordan and Lawson got into an argument.

Lawson "remembered picking up the folding knife and before she knew it [Jordan] had gotten into her face again and she, Lawson, swung at [Jordan]... Lawson said she did not mean to hurt [Jordan] but things happened quickly."

Lawson also told detectives that Jordan had threatened to kill her and she was afraid for her life.

The charging documents do not state what the argument was between the women. Charging documents in Lawson's assault case state that Lawson was observed by an on-duty cop telling Jordan "Bitch I should punch you in the face," then punching Jordan in the right eye. After that incident, Jordan told police that she was attempting to walk outside when she saw Lawson. Jordan said she moved to the side of the stairwell to let Lawson pass, but was punched anyways.

That incident took place at the same address on 16th Street Northeast.

In court Monday, Judge Karen Howze said Lawson had "horrifically" failed to comply with the stay-away order that prohibited Lawson from being near Jordan.

Lawson's attorney Lauren Bernstein said however, that Jordan was in Lawson's apartment when she was killed and that she was in fear for her life because Jordan had threatened to kill her. Additionally, Lawson's injuries, while fatal, amounted to one stab wound and not several, Bernstein said.

"This is consistant with self-defense," Bernstein told the court.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30 with Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Two Homicides in 24 Hours a "Cause for Concern," 1D Commander Says

Laura Amico — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:06:29 -0400

MPD's First District Commander Danny Hickson sent a message today about the two homicides that took place within 24 hours in 1D this weekend.

He wrote:

This weekend the First District experienced two homicide within 24 hours; the first occurred Friday night in the 1300 block of Emerald St NE and the second occurred Saturday night in the 400 block of 16th St NE. I am sure that this unusual occurrence is a cause of concern for members of the community, as it is for us. Both of these offenses were closed and we must ensure that we don't jeopardize their successful prosecution. Therefore, I can not share details of the homicides; however, I wanted to inform that community that neither of these crimes involved random victims. Both of the this weekend's crimes involve individuals who were known to each other and occurred at a private residence.

MPD will continue our efforts to reduce homicide and other violent crime, while we also look for new preventive avenues to pursue. As of Friday, homicides were down by 7% and violent crime was down by 6% city-wide. The First District has also experienced a 6% reduction in violent crime. This success has been achieved due to cooperation and communication between MPD and the community we serve. I urge each of you to continue to assist us as we look to achieve an even greater reduction of crime.

Danny Hickson
Commander, First District

In Northeast DC, One Woman Dead, another Arrested, in Stabbing

Laura Amico — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 13:57:30 -0400

UPDATED MPD reports that one woman was fatally stabbed and another arrested in connection with the crime this weekend in Northeast D.C.

According to a message from MPD, 49-year-old Karen Jordan was found stabbed in the 400 block of 16th Street Northeast at about 9:43 Saturday night. She was taken to a hospital where she died.

Just before noon Sunday, 44-year-old Stephanie Lawson, who lives in the same block where Jordan was found, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with Jordan's death.

MPD's message is after the jump.

On Saturday, August 27, 2011, at approximately 9:43 pm, units from the First District were dispatched to the 400 block of 16th St., NE, to investigate the report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival, they found a female victim suffering from a stab wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital by DCFEMS, where she subsequently succumbed to her injury and was pronounced dead. The victim has been identified as Karen Jordan, a 49 year old female of Notheast, DC.

On Sunday, August 28, 2011, at 11:55 am, MPD Homicide detectives arrested Stephanie Lawson, a 44 year old female of the 400 block of 16th St., NE, pursuant was arrested to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, charging her with Murder II While Armed in the homicide of Karen Jordan.

Family and friends left messages on Facebook and Twitter in memory of Jordan. A collection of those messages is below. You can leave more messages here.