Eight years after Pamela Butler went missing, a man was sentenced for her murder

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of Pamela Butler, putting an end to an eight-year open missing persons case.

Jose Rodriguez-Cruz, 52, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 12-years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

In February 2009, Pamela Butler, 47, went missing. According to details made public as part of plea agreement, Butler’s family and police investigated her disappearance for years. Rodriguez-Cruz, her then-boyfriend, was a suspect at the time, but there had yet to be concrete evidence since there was no body. Butler was pronounced legally dead by the courts in July 2016.

According to the warrant for Rodriguez-Cruz’s arrest, Butler’s relatives told police they arrived to Butler’s house and noted her alarm system wasn’t activated, her car was uncovered, her bedding was missing, and a window shade was raised on the side of the house not monitored by surveillance cameras.

However, surveillance footage from around the house showed Rodriguez Cruz walking in and out of the house multiple times throughout the weekend.

Upon police investigation, they found a pair of latex gloves, black plastic consistent with a trash bag on the lower part of the window sill not monitored by cameras, car washing material and more trash bags.

Dogs were brought to the scene and alerted police to the presence of human decay around Butler’s car, a red sheet that was found in the garage and the washer and dryer within the house.

Neighbors told police they witnessed a male driving the decedent’s car. In addition, another witnessed noted to a neighbor they thought it was odd that someone would be washing a car so late in the night and in such cold weather.

In April, Rodriguez-Cruz was arrested and charged with first degree murder.

As the case continued, his violent history with women was highlighted in court.

In January 2004, a woman told police that Rodriguez-Cruz held her at gunpoint and attempted to force her to have sex with him. He told the woman that he could, “make a body disappear,” and that he could, “kill [her]” tomorrow morning and “no one [will] ever find out.”

A detective detailed the account of a woman who said that Rodriguez-Cruz taped her arms so she could not move, and put her in the back of her car. After taking her and her child to his home, he demanded she have sex with him. She refused, and he threatened to sexually assault her daughter or “kill them both.” She tried to escape, and her screams woke her landlord before she stabbed Rodriguez-Cruz. When the landlord found them, Rodriguez-Cruz was holding the woman at gunpoint.

The woman was charged with “malicious wounding” but the case was dropped.

As part of the plea deal, Rodriguez-Cruz must provide police with the location of Butler’s body. If Rodriguez-Cruz refuses to help MPD locate the body, the plea agreement will be void and he will face the original charge of first-degree premeditated murder.

Man found fatally shot in car

Police are investigating after Omar Earl Rodgers, 25, was found fatally shot.

Police arrived at the scene at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 8 and found Rogers, of Southeast, in a vehicle in the 1300 block of Good Hope Rd., SE. He was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead once lifesaving efforts failed.

No suspects have been identified.

Brandon Franklin found not guilty by reason of insanity

The courtroom was packed with family and friends of both the victim and the suspect, to hear the outcome of Brandon Franklin’s case.

Judge Jose Lopez ruled Franklin not guilty by reason of insanity.

Franklin was charged with the murder of Marvin Stewart in January 2015 after Stewart was found by police suffering from stab wounds. After undergoing mental evaluation, Franklin was released to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital to undergo mental treatment.

He signed a waiver of trial, giving up the right to a trial by judge or jury.

In the courtroom, the prosecution read off the events leading up to the murder of Marvin Stewart on Jan. 8, 2015.

Judge Lopez said that even though Franklin was found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would have to stay at St. Elizabeth’s until doctors deemed him no longer mentally ill or a danger to himself. This means he may have to stay there longer than his maximum sentence had he pleaded guilty, according to the judge.

Afterward, two family members of Stewart read statements they had prepared for the court, begging the court not to release Franklin due to fear that he would return and harm other family members. The statements also listed several family members suffering from anxiety, PTSD and general health decline from the trauma of the murder. They said they respectfully asked for justice so their family could receive some sort of relief for the trauma they’ve endured.

Judge Lopez said he recognized the strength and courage that both family members demonstrated in reading their statements.

Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. 29.

Case against Daryl Thompson moves forward

The case against Daryl Thompson, 29, who allegedly fatally shot two men in two separate incident a few weeks apart moved forward last week.

Thompson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed. He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney continued to request evidence from the government. The judge ordered another hearing so that the attorneys, “can have a productive dialogue [about the evidence].”

Thompson allegedly shot and killed Edward Roberts Jr. on Jul. 30, 2016. Roberts was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 3500 block of 14th St., NW.

Almost a month later, Tyler McEachern, 23, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE.

A status hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 19, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.

Judge denies severance for Matthew Roth case

A request by two defendants to have their murder cases separated before trial was denied by a judge.

Ryan Thompson and Rasheed Murray requested severance in their trial for the alleged murder of Matthew Roth.

In July of 2015, Rasheed Murray and Ryan Thompson were allegedly drag racing when Murray lost control of his car and struck and killed Roth.

During the hearing, the two suspect’s attorneys requested severance in order to avoid the possibility of unfair decision by the jury. The prosecution made arguments against the severance, including the argument that Roth’s family should not have to sit through a trial more than once.

Murray and Thompson’s trial will be held in September of next year.

Man who allegedly beat Jose Ramirez to death rejects plea deal

The man charged with the murder of Jose Romero Ramirez pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal in court last week.

Manuel Pupo-Leyvas was indicted earlier this month on three charges: murder, simple assault and obstructing justice.

According to earlier reports, Ramirez was found unconscious in an apartment building in the 2500 block of 17th St., NW on Dec. 23, 2016. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. The cause of death was determined as blunt force trauma to the body and head. Police also found another male near the building who was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Details of the plea deal were not made public. Pupo-Leyvas is due in court for a status hearing on Dec. 15.

Warrant: Video shows fight that led to Kennedy Amaya-Olivares’ death

Video footage recovered from the scene of a murder in July purports to show the fight that preceded the murder of Kennedy Amaya-Olivares.

According to a warrant for murder suspect Demarius Anton Jackon’s arrest, the video shows two SUVs parked next to each other at the Potomac Boat Club also known as the “cliffs.” In one car sat Amaya-Olivares and three other passengers. In the other car sat Jackson and his girlfriend and additional passengers.

The footage shows an argument between the passengers of both vehicles. A man, who was later wounded in the incident but survived, produced a broken bottle, which he appears to motion with aggressively but does not act with. According to the warrant, a fight breaks out between Amaya-Olivares and one of the passengers in Jackson’s car, when Jackson shoots Amaya-Olivares. The group scatters, while Jackson then appears to shoot the second victim, and shoots him again once he had fallen to the ground. Then, Jackson, his girlfriend, and his three passengers flee the scene in the SUV they arrived in

A witness said that Jackson was crying, and did not shoot intentionally.

Jackson was located in West Virginia on Sept. 12. Officers found two semi-automatic handguns, a shotgun, and large quantities of marijuana and cocaine while searching the residence. A the time of his arrest, Jackson stated that he wanted to kill himself or someone else.

Charges dropped against woman accused of killing her boyfriend

The case against Sean Baker, charged with the fatal stabbing of Robert Wiggins, has been dismissed.

On Jan. 31 of 2016, 35-year-old Robert Wiggins died after being stabbed in the heart in the apartment he shared with Baker. Court documents show that Wiggins and Baker were romantically involved. In the charging documents, Baker told police that the two were arguing after he accused her of stealing his wallet. During the argument, Baker and Wiggins ended up wrestling for a knife on the ground and Wiggins was stabbed. The defense argued that Baker stabbed him out of self-defense.

Baker was released on bond and placed into the high intensity supervision program (HISP). As the case continued, Baker attended a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in West Virginia. Since she was continuously tested negative in her drug tests, the judge rewarded her for “good behavior” and she was able to attend a local place for treatment.

Baker was initially charged with intent to kill, but the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder while armed when Wiggins died from his injuries.

Her trial was originally set to March 14, 2018.

Jury trial on schedule after Brandon Franklin status hearing

The case against Brandon Franklin is ready for trial after the defense and prosecution reached a “break in the impasse,” defense attorney Pierce Suen said.

Franklin was accused of fatally stabbing Marvin Stewart in Jan. 2015 on the 700 block of 19th St. NE.

With the jury trial set for Oct. 17, the defense’s only task in preparation for the jury trial is to gather all the paperwork.

The next status hearing will be held on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.

Elliot Starks arrested after months-long search

After searching since November of 2016, police arrested 33-year-old Elliot Avery Starks on Wednesday for the alleged murder of Antina Pratt.

According to police, 40-year-old Pratt was found with multiple stab wounds in the 2600 block of Pomeroy Rd. SE and was declared dead at the scene. Police had asked the community several times for help in locating Starks throughout the 10 months.

On Oct. 4, Starks was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Man pleads guilty to killing his 81-year-old mother

A man who beat his mother to death has pleaded guilty to murder.

Derek Cook, 52, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed as part of a plea deal, that calls for him to serve a 20-year prison sentence.

On the night of Aug. 12, Cook beat his mother, Anne Alfredia Cook, 81, after a dispute in their apartment on the 5000 block of Fourth St., NE. Cook struck his mother with a closed fist, wooden stick, and an iron. Ann Cook was unarmed and in bed at the time of the assault.

MPD arrived, and needed to ram down the apartment door in order to enter, where they found Anne Cook severely injured. She was taken to the hospital, and died later that evening. Derek Cook has been in custody since the night of the assault.

A sentencing hearing will be held on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.

Man charged with murder of Paula Coles

A man previously charged with assaulting the mother of his child and their infant son has now been charged with the woman’s murder.

Larry Fearn, allegedly fatally stabbed Paula Coles, at her home while her 11-month-old son was inside.

According to an affidavit for Fearn’s arrest, Coles had repeatedly called 911 regarding domestic disputes involving Fearn, including the night before her murder. On July 5 Fearn was arrested for assaulting Coles, their infant child, and Fearn’s mother. The following day, Fearn was arrested for violating a court ordered stay away against Coles.

On Friday Fearn was charged with second-degree murder while armed Coles’ murder.

According to the warrant, Fearn arrived at Coles’ home while she was at home with a man she was dating. Coles called 911 and reported that Fearn had come to her home. Coles had been texting her boyfriend, stating that Fearn was threatening her, and later asked the witness to call the police for her.

Then on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at approx. 9:52 a.m. MPD officers arrived at the scene and found Paula Coles lying inside of the entrance to her apartment building, suffering from stab wounds. Her 11-month-old baby was found in the hallway, with blood soiled clothes and a cut to the hand.

Upon closer examination, Coles was found to have stab wounds to the right side of her face, chin, left breast, and above her right rear shoulder.

Fearn is being held without bail.

Suspect arrested in Antwaun Smith homicide

MPD arrested and charged a suspect on Sept. 18. with Antwaun Smith’s murder.

Antonio Williams, 36, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Smith, 41, was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound in the 600 block of Newton Place, NW on Sept. 10. Emergency personnel declared Smith dead at the scene.

The next court hearing is Oct. 12 at 9:30am.

Larry Fearn charged with fatal stabbing of Paula Renee Coles

A man has been charged with the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old woman.

Police arrested 35-year-old Larry Fearn on Thursday and charged him with second-degree murder while armed. Fearn allegedly fatally stabbed Paula Renee Coles to death on Wednesday.

Fearn is being held without bail.

Carl Hardy fatally shot Sunday night

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Carl Hardy.

Hardy was found shot in the 1200 block of I Street, SE on Sunday, Sept. 10. Police officers from the First District responded to the scene and found the 24-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound.

DC Fire and EMS transported Hardy to the hospital. He succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 1.

Surveillance footage showed several people of interest and a vehicle of interest.

The Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the incident and asking for the public’s help in identifying the people of interest.

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