U.S. Marshals are searching for a 19-year-old man who is accused of killing a teenager and leaving his body inside a District apartment, according to the Washington Examiner.
Kendrick Phillips was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in September in connection with the December 2009 shooting death of Deonte Payton, who was 16. Payton’s body was left in the apartment for up to 10 days, according to court records.
The Washington Examiner reports that Phillips is on the run after being released to await trial:
At Phillips’ bond hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Gerald I. Fisher, substituting for trial Judge Lynn Leibovitz, released Phillips and ordered him to wear an ankle-monitoring bracelet while he awaited trial.
On April 13, the District’s pre-trial services agency received an electronic alert that the bracelet had been tampered with overnight, authorities said. Leibovitz called for an emergency hearing and issued a warrant for Payton’s arrest. He hasn’t been spotted since.
U.S. Marshals Service deputies believe Phillips is still in possession of the firearm used to kill Deonte, and he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Phillips, who is also known as Ken-Ken, is described as being about 5-feet-7 and 130 pounds.
The Exainer said anyone with information regarding Phillips’ location should call U.S. Marshals Inspector Bob Hoffmaster at 202-345-7036, or the Marshals Service at 301-489-1717 or 800-336-0102.
