DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced a fatal stabbing defendant to eight years of imprisonment on April 3.
Frank Rooks, 56, also known as Frank Flythe, pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2025 to voluntary manslaughter for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Vance Contee on Nov. 16, 2024 on the 4000 block of Kansas Avenue, NW. Contee sustained stab wounds to his chest and back.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to a sentence of eight years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Ryan’s approval.
At sentencing, Judge Ryan stated he would try and balance the sense of justice for both sides. Justice “is sometimes misperceived by the parties,” he said, because rarely is anyone happy with the sentence.
Before requesting Rooks’ sentence, the prosecutor called upon Contee’s loved ones to give victim impact statements.
“Contee was like a brother to me,” Contee’s friend said. “He was my brother in spirit, in soul, and in reputation.” Contee’s friend detailed his relationship with Contee, explaining how they grew up together, shared similar experiences, and had a lot of the same dreams and goals. Now, those dreams will never be realized, he said.
Contee’s friend told Judge Ryan he had been previously convicted at age 16 in a different murder and spent 26 years in prison. He said he understood being locked up and had once been in a similar place as Rooks, but he had “to call for accountability.”
“As you impose your sentence, really think about accountability,” he said to Judge Ryan.
Contee’s sister stated Contee “wasn’t just a victim in this case. He was loved, he was growing, he mattered.” Contee “loved openly,” Contee’s sister said. “He would always say ‘Sis, I love you,’ and now, I’ll never get to hear those words again.”
According to Contee’s sister, Rooks has a violent history and has taken a life before. Afterwards, he was given the opportunity to rehabilitate and return to the community, yet he took another life, she said. She questioned how many chances someone should receive before another life is taken. “This is not just about my brother, it’s about what happens next,” she told Judge Ryan.
Contee “was a deeply loved member of our family,” Contee’s niece said. “He brought so much laughter, joy, love, and support to our life.” “My family and I will never be the same,” she stated.
The prosecutor said “the taking of a human life is one of the worst crimes you can commit.” The loss felt by Contee’s loved ones is “indescribable,” she contended.
She asked Judge Ryan to impose the sentence of eight years followed by five years of supervised release. “This sentence guarantees that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions,” she argued.
According to Terrance Austin, Rooks’ attorney, Rooks has had a lifelong battle with substance addiction and mental health issues. “It is crystal clear that a life inside of a prison cell isn’t appropriate” for a man like Rooks, he said.
Austin argued a long prison sentence isn’t necessary for this case because Rooks doesn’t take this incident lightly. Eight years is significant for someone of Rooks’ age, mental and physical condition.
Additionally, Austin noted it isn’t clear whether the prosecution would’ve been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rooks was guilty had this case gone to trial. This plea deal represents a concession on both ends, he stated, because “a trial is a risk for everyone.” He asked Judge Ryan to accept the agreed upon sentence of eight years.
Rooks apologized to Contee’s family in a statement to the court. “I admit I was wrong for what I done,” he said. He stated that if he could go back in time and change what he did, he would.
The judge said there isn’t anything he can do to write the wrong of losing a loved one. No matter the length of the sentence, eight or 80 years, Contee’s loved ones would never be whole, he said.
Judge Ryan explained that not accepting the agreed upon sentence of eight years would lead to a trial, where the outcome of the case is unknown. Because of that, Judge Ryan said that eight years is “a fair resolution” based on everything he knows about the case.
Judge Ryan sentenced Rooks to eight years followed by five years of supervised release. He recommended Rooks receive mental health and substance use testing and treatment, pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund (VVCF), and receive credit for time served.
No further dates were set.
