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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- February 26, 2018
Court
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Featured
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A four-week long homicide trial for three homicides in 1991 ended on Feb. 16 when a jury found Benito Valdez guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder while armed. The trial began on Jan. 23.
During the trial, the prosecution proved that Valdez fatally shot Curtis Pixley, 29; Keith Simmons, 24; and Samantha Gillard, 23; on the 1800 block of Franklin Street, NE, located in Langdon Park in Northeast D.C., on April 23, 1991. Valdez was also found guilty of three counts of kidnapping while armed and one count of sodomy while armed.
Following autopsy reports from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a firearms expert, it was determined that Valdez used two separate guns in the homicides. In addition, investigators discovered DNA evidence — Valdez’s semen and spit — on Gillard’s clothing.
Michael Green, who said he sold drugs with Valdez, is the only eyewitness to the homicides. He told the prosecution that he watched Valdez shoot Pixley, Simmons and Gillard “execution-style” — making the victims lay facedown and firing 17 times. He said he and Valdez then drove to Valdez’s mother’s house to clean and take apart the guns and then Valdez’s mother drove them to the Francis Scott Key Bridge to throw both guns over the edge.
Green, along with several other witnesses, told the jury that Valdez was not only known as an aggressive drug dealer, but also routinely mentioned that he committed the homicides. Valdez was charged with the crimes in February of 2016.
Samuel Edmonds, a witness who also sold drugs with Valdez, said he recalled a conversation about unpaid drug money where Valdez said he allegedly shot three people — two men and one woman — when drugs went missing. Edmonds testified on behalf of the prosecution as part of the terms of a 2007 plea deal for an unrelated drug conviction.
Valdez’s ex-girlfriend also told the jury that Valdez told her about the homicides six or seven times during their relationship, usually in a threatening manner, whenever he became angry.
Valdez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 by Judge Judith Bartnoff.