Carjacking Defendant Denied Release for the Second Time

By Emily Reed - June 21, 2024
Carjacking | Court | Daily Stories | Suspects | Victims |

A carjacking defendant was denied her request for release the second time, after a letter from the victim’s family was read before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow on June 20.

Kayla Brown, 22, is charged with unarmed carjacking for an incident that occurred on June 3 at Washington Hospital Center on the 100 block of Irving Street, NW. Brown allegedly stole a motor vehicle from a woman whose mother, 55-year-old Leslie Gaines, was still inside the car. 

According to court documents, officers chased down the stolen vehicle, which had crashed into the US Attorney’s Office on the 600 block of D Street, NW. Gaines was found in the car, unresponsive. She apparently died moments later. 

During the hearing, Brown’s defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, requested that Brown be released from the DC Jail. 

Her first request for release, made June 7, was denied, after Brown was sent to St. Elizabeths Hospital for mental health evaluation. Smith asserted that the prosecution had not shown that Brown was a danger to the community and could therefore be released.

The prosecution argued the nature of the incident shows Brown is a danger, stating Brown’s alleged actions during the incident were “random and opportunistic.” According to the prosecution, taking a car with a woman inside shows that Brown is unpredictable and dangerous.

The prosecution also read a letter from Gaines’ sister to argue against Brown’s release. The sister wrote that she was upset to be writing both an obituary for Gaines and an impact statement to the court. 

“I’m asking you to deny her bond the same way [Brown] denied my sister care,” the prosecution read from the letter.

Judge Pasichow denied the request for release, stating that she believed holding Brown would be safest for the community and Brown herself.

Parties are slated to return July 15 to discuss Brown’s competency examination results.