UPDATE: A formal press release from MPD has been added to the bottom of this post. 4-26-12, 5:24 p.m.
Since Denver man Gary Dederichs was found dead of head trauma in Northwest DC Tuesday evening, two more people have been been found with serious head injuries near where Dederichs was found, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said Thursday afternoon.
Those people, a 53-year-old male and an adult female, remain hospitalized.
A press conference was held this afternoon; Lanier also submitted the following message to the Fourth District listserv:
Within the past 48 hours there have been 3 separate incidents in which individuals have been assaulted and suffered head trauma. While we have not definitively linked these incidents there are several similarities that give cause to consider that possibility.
CasesBeginning with the homicide that occurred on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at approximately 6:00 PM: In this case 66 year old Gary Dederichs was found unconscious in the rear of the 800 block of Emerson Street, NW suffering from head trauma.
Approximately 9 hours later, on Wednesday, April 25th at 3:00 AM, a 53 year old male, was found unconscious in the roadway in the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue. Initially it was believed that this subject may have been struck by a car; however, after a medical examination it appears that his only injuries were trauma to the head. The injuries appear to have been caused by some sort of blunt object. That individual is currently still hospitalized in critical condition.
Lastly, just 26 hours after the first incident, on Wednesday, April 25, at approximately 8:40 PM, an adult female was assaulted while in the 5600 block of 9th Street, NW. The preliminary investigation has revealed that she was also struck in the head by a blunt object. This victim also suffered serious head trauma and remains hospitalized.
All three of these incidents occurred within a 10 block radius just along the Georgia Avenue corridor in Northwest.
It appears that all three of the victims were walking alone at the time of the attack.
All three of the victims suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head.
Preliminarily it appears that each victim was likely alone when they were suddenly struck in the head by some sort of blunt object.
The assaults seem to have occurred without provocation and lacked any specific motive such as robbery.
Anyone who may have been in the area or lives in the area and may have seen someone or something suspicious is encouraged to call us on 202-727-9099.
Obviously, until we get more information we are asking that our residents assist as our eyes and ears and report anything suspicious and when possible avoid walking alone.
Formal press release:
April 26, 2012
MPD Investigates Assaults that are Possibly Related
(Washington, DC)- Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today that within the past 48 hours there have been three separate incidents, in which individuals have been assaulted and suffered head trauma.
“While we have not definitively linked these incidents there are several similarities that give cause to consider that possibility,” Chief Lanier said.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at about 6:00 pm, 66-year-old Gary Dederichs, of Denver, Colorado was found unconscious in the rear of the 800 block of Emerson Street, NW suffering from head trauma. He was subsequently pronounced dead. The death was ruled a homicide that was caused by blunt force trauma.
Approximately 9 hours later, on Wednesday, April 25 at 3:00 am, a 53 year old male, was found unconscious in the roadway in the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue. Initially it was believed that this subject may have been struck by a car; however, after a medical examination it appears that his only injuries were trauma to the head. The injuries appear to have been caused by some sort of blunt object. That individual is currently still hospitalized in critical condition.
Lastly, just 26 hours after the first incident, on Wednesday, April 25, at approximately 8:40 pm, an adult female was assaulted while in the 5600 block of 9th Street, NW. The preliminary investigation has revealed that she was also struck in the head by a blunt object. This victim also suffered serious head trauma and remains hospitalized.
All three of these incidents occurred within a 10 block radius just along the Georgia Avenue corridor in Northwest.
It appears that all three of the victims were walking alone at the time of the attack. All three of the victims suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head.
“Preliminarily, it appears that each victim was likely alone when they were suddenly struck in the head by some sort of blunt object,” Chief Lanier said. “The assaults seem to have occurred without provocation and lacked any specific motive such as robbery. Obviously, until we get more information we are asking that our residents assist as our eyes and ears and report anything suspicious and when possible avoid walking alone.”
Anyone who may have been in the area or lives in the area and may have seen someone or something suspicious is encouraged to call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.
