Defendant Pleads Guilty to Strangling and Beating Woman to Death in Hotel Room

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Through his defense attorney, Russell Hairston, William Barrett pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed as part of a pre-indictment plea agreement in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Aug. 23.

Barrett, 69, was originally charged with first-degree and second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the death of 36-year-old Romaine Maddox on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE, on Feb. 23.

In return for Barrett’s guilty plea, the prosecution agreed not to seek indictment on the charge of first-degree murder. For the charge of second-degree murder while armed, Barrett faces a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000, with a period of supervised release not to exceed five years.

The prosecution’s proffer of facts stated that Barrett and Maddox had been in a romantic relationship for about a year at the time of the incident. They checked into a hotel together to celebrate Maddox’s birthday.

“The defendant told detectives that Ms. Maddox punched him in the chest, head and back,” the prosecutor said. “According to the defendant, he became enraged and blacked out.”

Despite partial memory loss, Barrett told detectives he remembered wrapping his belt around Maddox’s neck and pulling. He also remembered striking her in the face with a toilet tank lid until it broke into three pieces.

When Barrett woke in the hotel room the next morning, he found Maddox’s body was cold.

At the time of the incident, the prosecution said, Maddox was five feet tall and weighed 105 pounds. Barrett was five feet seven inches tall and weighed 129 pounds.

During the hearing, Barrett confirmed that the prosecution’s proffer of facts was true.

Barrett’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.