Before Latisha Frazier was killed, she and the defendants charged with her death were friends. They hung out, and she brought them McDonald’s. But that was before Frazier was kidnapped. Punched. Stomped. Taped up. Gagged. Choked. And killed. On Thursday, one of those friends, Johnnie Sweet, was sentenced for his role in the attack. His … Read more →
Johnnie Sweet turned down a government plea offer he found less than favorable because he said he didn’t play the lead role in Latisha Frazier’s brutal 2010 death. A jury, however, disagreed. After deliberating for about five hours, the jury found Sweet guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with physical evidence … Read more →
By the prosecutor’s estimation, the death of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier is not a “who done it.” “By the defendant’s own words, he is guilty, guilty, guilty,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Williams said in closing arguments Monday. That defendant, Johnnie Sweet, is accused of taking part in a brutal “peer pressure” fueled beating. A beating in … Read more →
As the second day of testimony began Wednesday, Johnnie Sweet rejected yet another plea overture from the government, saying that he would not agree to any deal that would require him to spend more time in prison than the man he says is most culpable for Latisha Frazier’s death- Brian Gaither. Before the jury was … Read more →
What can be described as the final chapter in the story of Latisha Frazier’s death began Tuesday morning with the start of defendant Johnnie Sweet’s murder trial. Sweet, 19, is charged with taking part in Frazier’s death- a killing that, as one teen described at trial Tuesday, was fueled by peer pressure. Six young people … Read more →
Two men accused in the murder of Latisha Frazier will be tried separately, after Judge William Jackson agreed to sever their cases yesterday. Johnnie Sweets and Brian Gaither are charged with first-degree murder in connection with Frazier’s death. They are also charged with felony murder and “aggravating circumstances.” Those circumstances are that Frazier’s death was … Read more →
Brian Gaither and Johnnie Sweets have rejected plea offers from the government that would cap their potential sentences at 38 years for the murder of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier. The two, now 24 and 18 years old respectively, are charged with first-degree murder in the case. If convicted, Judge William Jackson said, they could be sentenced … Read more →
The cases against Brian Gaither and Johnnie Sweets, man accused of murdering missing woman Latisha Frazier, have been continued. D.C. Superior Court Judge W. Jackson ordered the case against Brian Gaither continued until May 11. Gaither and Sweets are charged with second-degree murder in the August 2010 beating death of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier. Frazier’s mother … Read more →
One of the six young people suspected in the death of missing DC teen Latisha Frazier has filed a motion to sever his case from his codefendants’ case. In the motion, filed Jan. 13, Brian Gaither claims that if his case remains joined with Johnnie Sweet, Sweet’s statement to police will prejudice the case against … Read more →
Brian Gaither and Johnnie Sweet each pleaded innocent today to first degree and felony murder and kidnapping in the death of Latisha Frazier in Aug. 2010. If convicted, they face life sentences without the possibility of parole. Prosecutor Chris Kavanaugh said there are no plea discussions in the cases. Judge William Jackson set a trial … Read more →
Brian Gaither and Johnnie Sweet have been indicted on charges related to the death of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier, the US Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon. Gaither, 23, and Sweet, 18, are due in court tomorrow. The indictment charges each man with first degree felony murder, first degree premeditated murder, and “aggravating circumstances.” Those circumstances are … Read more →
Of the six people arrested on suspicion of killing D.C. teenager Latisha Frazier, the US Attorney’s Office has only two open cases against those suspects remaining. That news follows on the heels of a guilty plea made by one of those co-defendants Friday. In a three week period last winter, Brian Gaither, Johnnie Sweet, Aneka … Read more →
Nineteen-year-old Cinthya Proctor pleaded guilty this morning to participating in the killing of Latisha Frazier last August. According to the details of the plea agreement, Proctor could be sentenced to life in prison. Proctor is, at this time, the only defendant to plead guilty to the crime. Anneka Nelson, Johnnie Sweet, Brian Gaither and Laurence … Read more →
Signaling that the Grand Jury could take the full nine months allotted by law to indict the Latisha Frazier murder case, Judge William Jackson set the next hearing date for the case for Oct. 21. The date is one day before the nine-month deadline to indict the case against Brian Gaither, the first of six … Read more →
To make access to these documents easier, we’ve decided to post them all again in a single entry. Read more →
An attorney for Brian Gaither, suspected of first-degree murder in the death of Latisha Frazier, is seeking to compel authorities to search for Frazier’s body, believed to be in a Richmond landfill. Eugene Ohm, representing Gaither at a felony status conference Friday morning, said physical evidence contained on Frazier’s remains could determine whether his client … Read more →
Family and friends of Latisha Frazier filled a D.C. court room on Feb. 11, many wearing T-shirts with photos of the victim and her daughter. Although they were prepared for an emotional preliminary hearing for the five people charged with Frazier’s slaying, they were spared another long day in court and a rehashing of the … Read more →
By all accounts so far, Latisha Frazier’s last hours were brutal. Accused of stealing from a neighborhood friend, the 18-year-old mother was beaten, stomped, bound, taped, gagged, prodded and choked. Her head was covered with a sheet. She was tossed into a closet. When she finally died, her body was moved from room to room … Read more →
Anneka Nelson and Cinthya Proctor were charged yesterday in the brutal beating death of missing D.C. woman Latisha Frazier. Charging documents in their cases follow the jump. Brian Gaither and Johnnie Sweet have also been charged in the case. Charging documents in Gaither’s case are here and in Sweet’s case here. A fifth defendant, Laurence … Read more →
Three teens were charged today in the death of missing D.C. woman Latisha Frazier and ABC7 is reporting that another, and final, arrest was made in the case this afternoon. Johnnie Sweet, Anneka Nelson and Cinthya Proctor appeared in D.C. Superior Court this afternoon. A fourth defendant, Brian Gaither, was charged Jan. 24. The name … Read more →
As reported last night, Metro PD has arrested two more teens in the death of Latisha Frazier, bringing the total number of people arrested so far to four. The defendants in the case are: Anneka Nelson, 16, Cinthya Proctor, 18, Johnnie Sweet, 17, and Brian Gaither, 18. Sweet and Nelson are being charged as adults. … Read more →
This just in from Metro PD: February 1, 2011 Second Arrest Made in the Homicide of Missing Person Latisha Frazier ( Washington, DC) — Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today that a second suspect has been arrested in the homicide of Latisha Frazier. On August 4, 2010, 18-year-old Latisha Frazier of … Read more →
