Judge Finds Probable Cause in Murder Case

By Sofia Marcus [former] - June 2, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On June 2, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause a defendant committed murder.

George Sydnor, 43, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that killed 31-year-old Christy Bautista on March 31, at a hotel on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, Sydnor stabbed Bautista approximately 22 times.  And a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective testified no one else entered or exited the room where the murder occurred.

Jesse Winograd, Sydnor’s attorney, questioned the detective about the fairness of the classification “investigate the trouble” the 911 dispatcher used. This term means dispatchers are uncertain of specifics of an incident, but rule it as important to check out, according to the detective.

Surveillance footage allegedly captured Sydnor arriving at the hotel on his bike and then stepping into the room. There were sounds of possible a struggle heard in the video.

The door didn’t appear to be forced open the detective said, and Sydnor was calm when arrested.

Over defense objections, the prosecutor argued that an abundance of evidence, including physical evidence and eyewitness statements, corroborates probable cause.

Judge Okun agreed there was probable cause that Sydnor committed the crime with premeditation and deliberation. 

Prosecutors requested that Sydnor remain in DC Jail, saying that he poses a risk not only to the community, but women in particular.

The nature of the evidence and the offense weighs heavily in favor of detention, Judge Okun said in agreement.

Parties are expected back for a felony status conference on Sept. 8.