Defendant Pleads Guilty to 2 Counts of Negligent Homicide

By Adrianna Bhan [former] , Birchard Allen IV [former] - July 12, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

On July 11, a homicide defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent homicide before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

Melvin Conley, 63, is charged with two counts of negligent homicide for his involvement in a fatal car accident that killed Rhonda Whitaker, 55, and Waldon Adams on April 24, 2021, on the 4000 Block of Dubois Place, SE.

At the hearing, Kevin Mosley, Conley’s defense attorney, said he intended to accept a plea deal, which requires Conley to plead guilty to two counts of negligent homicide in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

According to the prosecution, Conley, who had been on dialysis and endured coughing fits that caused him to black out, told police that he had no recollection of hitting the victims and that he “must have blacked out.” After the accident, Conley drove to his sister’s house and backed into a fenced yard behind the residence. 

Conley noticed the damage on his car but did not alert the police. 

According to court documents, Conley’s blood sugar levels were low, and it was reported he had been “nodding off” during the interrogation.

The prosecution shared that Conley had never told his doctor about his blacking out.

Conley said that all the facts the prosecution shared were true. 

Judge Raffinan accepted Conley’s plea. 

Conley is set to be sentenced on Nov. 5.