Judge Finds Probable Cause in Murder Case, Holds Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 9, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial and held the defendant at DC Jail. 

Cory Brown, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting his girlfriend, 40-year-old Latasha Estep, with a crossbow on the 1900 block of Good Hope Road, SE on Aug. 8. 

“He is seen leaving the scene, weapon in hand shortly after the incident, his appearance matches the person leaving the scene and the person in the footage is wearing identical clothes to what Mr. Brown was wearing when he was arrested,” Judge Todd Edelman said during the Dec. 8 hearing.  “And there is evidence regarding the motive in terms of the decedent ending their relationship,” Judge Edelman said for these reasons he found probable cause that the defendant was involved in the homicide.

The prosecutor also showed the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective surveillance footage from outside the victim’s apartment on Good Hope Road, SE, photographs of the crime scene and of Brown at the time of his arrest, and text messages between Brown and the victim. 

The detective testified that on the day leading up to the shooting, the victim was ending her relationship with Brown, citing multiple text messages that allegedly show the victim saying, “I don’t trust you,” with Brown responding “I’m not going to hurt you,” before the victim tells Brown that she is not going to pay his phone bill anymore. 

The prosecutor also showed the detective multiple photographs of the scene. The detective pointed out the boxes of crossbow arrows in a crib next to the victim’s bed, four small holes in the wall behind the bed and one large crossbow that was allegedly used by Brown. 

After viewing surveillance footage, the detective pointed out one smaller crossbow in the man’s hand as he left the building before he got into the victim’s car and left the area. 

The detective also said, an MPD officer responded to the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE for the report of a man with a knife, who appeared to be suicidal. The detective said a witness, who is a member of Brown’s family,  called the police after Brown entered their home and asked the witness to “put him out of his misery.” 

The detective testified that when MPD officers arrived, Brown put his hands forward and asked the officers to cuff him. However, at the time, the officers were unaware of the incident and told him to put his hands down.

Photographs of Brown at the time, show him wearing a white shirt with reddish-brown stains on its front. 

Officers had responded to a domestic violence call at the victim’s apartment on Good Hope Road in the past.

During the homicide investigation, police also discovered the victim’s body when they went to the apartment to check on the victim, the day after the incident.

According to the detective, shortly after arriving at the victim’s apartment, MPD officers placed Brown under arrest. When the victim’s car was searched on Stanton Road, police found a small crossbow on the floor of the passenger side of the car. 

A witness told the detective that Brown was acting paranoid and said there were people outside trying to get him. A witness told Brown to “go home to your lady,” but Brown allegedly said he couldn’t go home and she isn’t there. 

Defense attorney, Ronald Resetarits, asked the detective if he received any forensic reports on the DNA found on the scene or on Brown’s shirt. The detective testified that he had not received any forensic reports on the DNA evidence. 

Resetarits argued that there is no forensic evidence linking Brown to the incident. He also said, even if Brown was involved, there is evidence that he is suffering from a mental health condition and may have been hallucinating at the time. 

“The government has clearly proven probable cause,” Judge Edelman said.” In terms of the mental health issue raised, I think it’s relevant, but I don’t think the evidence was developed in a way that comes anywhere near what it would take to defeat probable cause.”

The prosecutor asked for Brown to be held, due to the nature of the crime, and Brown already being on pretrial release in a domestic violence case involving the same victim. 

But, Resetarits argued that Brown has a good education, work history, and many of his prior convictions are relatively old.

Given the arguments, Judge Edelman chose to hold the defendant at DC Jail. 

“There is ample evidence of dangerousness here, the judge said. “The court has already found probable cause and, at the time he committed this offense, he was on pretrial release for threatening the same victim.” Judge Edelman also cited Brown’s five other assault convictions between 2007 and 2015 as reasons why the defendant cannot be released. 

Brown’s next hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2021.

You can read more about the case in this Washington Post article from August.