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Three Men Accused of Killing DC Cop "Execution-style"
Forestville, MD
Officer Oliver Wendell Smith Jr., 27 was found face down outside
his Forestville apartment with three gunshot wounds pointblank to the back
of his head. Three men were arrested today for killing the off-duty
DC Police Officer.
The three accused killers each have criminal records. Anthony Crawley,
38, has 12 arrests dating back to 1986, Donovan Strickland, 29, has at
least 15 arrests since 1986 and was out on pretrial release for burglary
and assaulting a police officer at the time of Officer Smith's killing.
Antwon Brown, 23, was arrested in 1993 for carrying a pistol while possessing
and distributing drugs.
Prince Georges County Police Chief John S. Farrell emphasized the suspects'
criminal records at a news conference saying "this brutal and senseless
murder could have been prevented. None of the three are strangers
to the criminal justice system. There has to be a way to deal with
the revolving door which cycles hard-core offenders like these out as fast
as they're taken in."
---from Washington Times, March 1, 1997, Page A-1 Go
back to top of page
Family Sues City For Allowing Killer to Roam Free
Washington, DC
On December 16th, 1995, Bettina Pruckmayr was stabbed 38 times at an ATM
machine by a convicted murderer out on early parole (see Suspect
in ATM Killing had Multiple Parole Violations). Yesterday, Bettina's
parents announced that they are suing the District of Columbia for gross
negligence.
The lawsuit, which doesn't specify any monetary damages but asks that the
policies of the city's Department of Corrections and its Parole Board be
reformed to keep dangerous criminals off the street. "We're trying
to prevent this from happening again. It shouldn't happen to anyone else
in this city" said Bettina's father Gerfried Pruckmayr.
The lawsuit contends that the city was guilty of gross negligence when
it allowed convicted murder Leo Gonzales Wright to walk free. Wright was
granted early parole despite his violent background which continued while
he was in prison. The lawsuit also contends that the Department of Corrections
did not maintain a complete and accurate file of Wright's prison history-including
details of disciplinary action taken against Wright-which might have stopped
the Parole Board from approving his early release.
Former corrections officer Arthur Hood, said it appears Wright's prison
records may have been altered before they were reviewed by the Parole Board.
"He didn't slip through any cracks. He walked out through a canyon"
said Mr. Hood.
---from Washington Times, December 17th, 1996, Page C-4 Go
back to top of page
Early Release Inmate Kills 3
Oklahoma City, OK -
Just five days after being released from prison, Lamonte Fields, age 20,
killed his girlfriend, both her parents, and wounded his 2 and a half year
old son.
Fields was one of 57 inmates released under a law that authorizes early
release of inmates during overcrowding emergencies in the state prison
system.
Governor Frank Keating called for the repeal of the early release law and
said he would not release any more inmates under the provision until state
lawmakers reconvene and reconsider the early release law.
---from Washington Post, August 08, 1996, Page A-21 Go back
to top of page
Court of Appeals Throws Out Double Murder Conviction
Annapolis, MD-
Scotland Williams was convicted in March 1995 by an Anne Arundel County
Circuit jury for killing two prominent Washington area lawyers as they
lay naked in their bed. Yesterday, the Maryland Court of Appeals overturned
the conviction citing several technicalities.
The Court of Appeals said trial Judge Eugene Lerner erred when he refused
to let defense lawyers question DNA lab technician Melissa Weber about
mistakes other lab technicians have made in the past in carrying out tests
of DNA samples in other cases. The Court of Appeals also said that a crowbar
should not have been allowed to be introduced as evidence in the case and
that jurors should not have been informed about the juvenile record of
a defense witness.
But prosecutor Cynthia Ferris vowed to "re-try [the case] as many
times as it takes because [Williams] is clearly guilty. It was a heinous
crime. Two very fine people were basically executed." She added that
"it [is] this kind of reversal on relatively small things that causes
the citizens to become so frustrated with the court system."
The victims, Mr. Trias, 49, and Mrs. Gilbert, 48, were both shot in the
back of the head as they lay in the bedroom of their Severn River weekend
getaway home.
---from Washington Times, July 31, 1996, Page C-3 Go back
to top of page
Defendant Seeks Mistrial After Stabbing Witness
Washington, DC (July 16, 1996)-
Harold Cunningham, on trial along with two others for a four month crime
spree that left five dead and 13 wounded, leapt from his wheelchair yesterday
in a packed U.S. District Courtroom and stabbed his girlfriend who had
just testified against him. A U.S. Marshal was injured as he wrestled the
homemade knife away from Cunningham.
Today, the defendant asked Judge Cladys Kessler to grant a mistrial. Defense
lawyer Gregory Spencer argued that the stabbing will prejudice jurors.
"It is quite impossible to think Mr. Cunningham could receive a fair
trial" said Mr. Spencer.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein said that the three men,
facing life imprisonment if convicted, "know the consequences of being
disruptive. It is clear that these men knew being disruptive could get
them kicked out of the courtroom... They should not be able to secure a
mistrial by trying to kill someone in court" said Mr. Wainstein.
The three defendants are charged with 18 counts of murder of attempted
murder, armed robbery, assault while armed, conspiracy, burglary, and violations
of federal and city weapons laws.
---from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Five Murdered by Pair Out on Early Release
Albuquerque, NM (March 14, 1996)-
Two prison inmates, free under an early-release program were arrested on
March 12th in the brutal slayings of three video store employees and an
elderly couple who stumbled onto the crime.
The suspects - Esther Beckley 41, and Shane Harrison, 26 were participating
in a community corrections program, in which prisoners who are within a
year of completing their terms can be released early for purposes like
work and education.
Ms. Beckley had previously been sentenced to six years for cocaine trafficking
and Mr. Harrison 10 years for armed robbery.
---from New York Times Go back to top of page
Ex-NBA Player Arrested for Kidnapping Wants Out of Jail
Washington, DC. (March 13, 1996)-
On January 26th, 1996, Charles "Hawkeye" Whitney kidnapped Mark
D. Fabiani, a special assistant to President Clinton, as the aide was walking
near his house in Alexandria, Virginia. Mr. Whitney has confessed to forcing
Mr. Fabriani into a car and driving him to two banks to withdraw a total
of $1,600.
Yesterday, a D.C. magistrate held a hearing to consider whether to allow
Mr. Whitney to leave jail in order to enter a drug-treatment program in
Texas. Philadelphia 76ers coach John Lucas testified on Mr. Whitney's behalf
at the hearing saying that "he's not a bad person; he's just doing
bad things."
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenda Johnson, Mr. Whitney has had
recurring problems with drugs and the law since 1983, when a knee injury
ended his NBA career. At the time of the kidnapping, a warrant was out
for the arrest of Whitney in Virginia where he is charged with car theft.
---from Washington Times Go back to top of page
New York Criminal Court Judge Faces Removal
New York, NY. (February 16, 1996)-
Galina Komar 33, had begged the court for protection from Benito Oliver,
35. Oliver, who had three previous felony convictions, was in court for
beating Ms. Komar and making threats against her life.
New York Criminal Court Judge Lorin Duckman, however, said he was not impressed
with the injuries sustained by Ms. Komar. According to court transcripts,
Judge Duckman said, "There is no actual physical injury, is there,
other than some bruising?...I am not suggesting that bruising is nice,
but there is no disfigurement."
Judge Duckman released Benito Oliver on bail. Three weeks later, Oliver
killed Ms. Komar at work with a .44 caliber bullet to the head.
New York Govener George Pataki may ask the state Senate to oust Judge Duckman
from the Bench.
---from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Killer of Daughter Gets to Keep New Son at Home
In 1993, Latrena Pixley, 22, pleaded guilty to smothering to death her
6-week-old daughter. For this crime, D.C. Superior Court Judge George W.
Mitcherll sentenced Pixley to weekends in jail for three years.
Now, a little over two years later, 1996, Pixley's attorneys have requested
that the sentence be shortened on account that Pixley gave birth to her
forth child on January 24th, 1996. A D.C. Superior Family Court Judge is
allowing the new infant to remain at home with Pixley in the same apartment
where the 6-week-old daughter was killed.
---from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Suspect in ATM Killing had Multiple Parole Violations
Washington, DC. (December 18, 1995)-
Leo Gonzales Wright was on parole for killing a taxi driver when he was
arrested in June 1995 on a drug charge. For months after that, he failed
to keep appointments with his parole officer. He also routinely missed
his court-ordered drug tests. When he did show up, he often tested positive
for cocaine and heroin. DC officials however, decided against revoking
Wright's parole and sending him back to prison.
On December 16th, 1995, Wright reportedly abducted Bettina Pruckmayr in
a carjacking. He drove her to an ATM machine and repeatedly stabbed her
before attempting to use her ATM card and then drove off in her Ford Mustang.
Wright is also a suspect in another carjacking on December 12, 1995 involving
an Arlington, VA women in Georgetown.
---from Washington Post Go back to top of page
Boys Sentenced in Child's Death
Chicago, Ill. (December 5, 1995)-
Two young boys who dropped a 5-year-old to his death from a 14th floor
apartment because he wouldn't steal candy for them will be confined to
a youth home for no more than 10 years, a judge ruled yesterday.
Convicted on the juvenile equivalent of first-degree murder, the boys,
now 11 and 12 could be released earlier if a court determines they have
made enough progress.
Juvenile Court Judge Carol Kelly said she wants the state to locate a center
that can offer hope of returning the boys to society.
---from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Three Charged in Stealing Baby From Mother's Womb
Addison, Ill. (November 20, 1995)-
On November 16th, Jacqueline Williams, Fedell Caffey, and Levern Ward,
sliced open Deborah Evans' belly with a scissors and plucked out a healthy
baby boy who was just days from being born.
All three of the accused have long criminal records. Williams' record includes
convictions for theft and forgery. Caffey has been convicted of attempted
theft, domestic battery, and unlawful use of a weapon. Ward was released
from a prison work camp in January after serving a three year sentence
for striking a police officer.
----from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Millionaire Wife of Senator Mugged
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 23, 1995)-
The millionaire wife of a U.S. senator was robbed at gunpoint as she and
the wife of an undersecretary of state were walking to a car after attending
the theater in downtown Washington, D.C.
Teresa Heinz, wife of Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass) and Wren Wirth, wife
of Undersecretary Timithy Wirth, were uninjured in the incident.
---Washington Post Go back to top of page
Killer of 3 Year-old was on Parole
Los Angeles (Oct 19, 1995)-
A paroled killer was arrested in the slaying of a 3 year-old girl. The
girl was killed after her family mistakenly turned onto a dead end street
known as the "Avenue of the Assassins."
Vincent Caldera, 23, was arrested in connection with the shooting and is
being held without bail for murder and attempted murder. Caldera was out
on parole after serving three years in prison for a previous murder conviction.
----from Washington Times Go back to top of page
Gang Prosecutor Murdered in Boston
Boston Mass. (Sept 27, 1995)-
A state prosecutor who led an anti-gang task force was shot dead by a hooded
teenager in a train station parking lot as he headed home from work.
Assistant Attorney General Paul R. McLaughlin, 42, was killed by a gunshot
to the head.
----from Washington Post Go back to top of page
