A DC man suspected of beating a man to death in his Northeast DC home has been released from jail and the charge against him dropped.
The case against Dennis Washington was dismissed in court Tuesday and an order for his release from jail was signed that same day. He had faced a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of Thomas Lipscomb in April 2011. Lipscomb was found dead on April 26, lying on the floor of his apartment, partially decomposed.
The US Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the dismissal, but said that the investigation “is continuing.”
Prosecutors alleged that Washington and another man, Christopher Fletcher, went to Lipscomb’s home to rob him of his television. Fletcher was shot and killed in May 2011 during an unrelated incident. Before his death, Fletcher told detectives that he and Washington went to Lipscomb’s apartment to collect a debt owed to Washington. Charging documents in the case say Fletcher later saw Washington crossing Minnesota Avenue carrying Lipscomb’s television.
According to charging documents, Lipscomb was seen alive a week before police found his body. On the night he was seen alive, one witness heard what sounded like a fight inside Lipscomb’s apartment. Another witness reported hearing multiple people beating someone inside Lipscomb’s apartment sometime in the month before police discovered his body.
Dismissal documents are included below this post.
