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By
Sofia Feigelson [former]
- May 21, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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stabbing
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe denied a Florida-based defendant’s request for the removal of electronic monitoring during release at a May 20 hearing.
Judge O’Keefe has previously granted the defendant’s motions to modify release conditions.
Ron Damon Wright, 49, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and felony murder for the killing of Ricardo Burbano, 19, on March 31, 1992. The incident occurred near the 100 block of Q Street, NW. Wright was 17-years-old at the time.
According to court documents, Wright allegedly beat, tortured, strangled and stabbed Burbano to death, dumping the victim in Maryland. Burbano was found near the 900 block of Chillum Roach, Hyattsville, MD wrapped in a plastic sheet with duct tape and a blanket with cords around the neck, thigh and ankles.
According to an autopsy, the victim showed evidence of eleven instances of blunt force head injuries, two stab wounds to the chest and back, and three freshly extracted teeth, among other wounds.
In 2002, blood recovered from a stained carpet in Wright’s home likely matched that of the victim.
The defendant was arrested and charged with the murder of Burbano on August 19, 2022. It is unclear why there was a long delay leading to his arrest.
According to defense attorney David Benowitz, Wright runs a jet ski company in Florida and one of his responsibilities involves training employees to test equipment, give tours and make repairs.
He claimed that his client’s business has decreased 80 percent since being charged in this case, adding that wearing electronic GPS monitoring is part of the problem.
Benowitz stated that due to electronic monitoring, the defendant cannot go under water, which he argued is an important facet of Wright’s job.
The defense attorney said his client has been very cooperative with release conditions and has made zero attempts to flee. He added that Wright is married and has children in Florida.
The prosecution was against any modification to Wright’s release conditions, arguing that the defendant’s previous requests for modifying release conditions were granted.
According to prosecutors, Wright previously requested to change his release conditions to allow him to relocate to the state of Florida, to leave home confinement to work in his jet ski business, and to attend religious services. All of these motions were granted.
The prosecution emphasized that this case involves charges regarding the torture of a high school boy, whose family has attended every hearing and has been against the defendant being granted release.
“It seems counterproductive to justice,” said the prosecutor.
She argued that GPS monitoring causing Wright an inconvenience was not a reason to withdraw electronic monitoring from his release conditions.
Judge O’Keefe sided with the prosecution and denied Wright to remove his electronic monitoring.
In addition to ruling on the motion to modify release conditions, Judge O’Keefe and the parties set a trial date for September 8, 2025.
The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8.