Unprovoked Man Allegedly Kills Fellow Patient at Psychiatric Hospital

By Mark Lu [former] - March 11, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A patient at St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington’s psychiatric institute, is accused of killing a fellow patient. According to court documents, the defendant allegedly claimed to have “government secrecy technology” in his body and implied he needed to kill someone to obtain surgery.

Charles Lee, 28, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly strangling David Dowdell in his hospital bedroom during the early hours of March 9. Dowdell was found surrounded by blood and signs of a struggle. A medical examiner pronounced him dead at 3:56 a.m. from trauma and strangulation, according to court documents.

Dowdell was charged with assaulting a police officer in 2020 but was found incompetent to stand trial and eventually sent to St. Elizabeths. He was found competent just days before his death but a judge decided to keep him at the hospital, as recommended by a Department of Behavioral Health report. His March 4 hearing was continued for a possible disposition.

According to court documents, surveillance footage shows a man alleged to be Lee walking out of his room into the hallway before moving to the decedent’s room at approximately 2:52 a.m. Between 3:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., St. Elizabeths staff check the patients’ rooms and hallways twice, according to court documents. 

During a third round of checks, a resident nurse witnessed Lee allegedly twisting his foot on the decedent’s neck at approximately 3:27 a.m. She appears to yell down the hall for help and approximately five minutes later, staff removes Lee from the room.

Lee said he attended the University of California at Riverside and studied business before dropping out. When speaking with detectives, he allegedly talked about killing someone because he needed surgery. When a detective asked Lee why he would need to kill someone to get surgery, he responded that he just needed to kill someone, according to court documents.

Lee said he walked in when he believed the victim was sleeping and then began choking him with his hand. He told police he had sharpened a plastic spoon to stab the decedent to death—which did not work.  When Dowdell fainted from downward pressure on his throat, Lee allegedly stepped down on his neck using his knee and foot to make sure he was dead.

Lee said he was sorry he had to kill the decedent but told officers he’s glad everyone is safe. He also explained he has never killed anyone in the past because he can usually control himself, but the fight this time was too intense.

The sharpened spoon, which was made up of four sharpened spoons shaved to a point and wrapped together, was found in Lee’s bedroom at St. Elizabeths during a search warrant.

Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey was appointed to represent Lee, who is scheduled to appear in court next on March 22 before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. He is currently being held at DC Jail.