Jewell Washington | Homicide Watch DC

Murder Charge Dismissed in Case Against Jewell Washington

Laura Amico — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:05:23 -0400

The second-degree murder Jewell Washington was facing in the death of her half-brother, Mark Goldring, has been dismissed.

Proseuctors made an oral argument Friday to Judge Robert Morin asking for the dismissal.

On Thursday, US Attorney's Office Spokesman William Miller said that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.

Murder Charge in NE DC Domestic Stabbing will be Dismissed

Laura Amico — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:54:27 -0400

Jewell Washington will not be prosecuted for the murder of her half-brother, Mark Goldring, in Northeast DC.

Washington was arrested on Oct. 11, 2011, the same day Goldring was fatally stabbed in his father's home. At a preliminary hearing in December, Judge Gerald Fisher found "substantial probability" that Washington committed the crime.

MPD Homicide Detective Douglas Carlson testified at the preliminary hearing that before Goldring was stabbed, Washington had argued with his wife about some bedding she wanted to pick up from her father's house, where her half-brother and his family also lived.

The wife called Goldring during the argument, warning him that if he did not come home right then, she was going to “F*** [Washington] up,” Carlson said.

Washington told authorities later that same day that Goldring had punched her and that after he punched her she stabbed him. When interviewed by officers, her shirt, pants, legs and shoes were covered in blood, Carlson said.

From her first appearance at DC Superior Court, she has argued a claim of self defense. At the preliminary hearing Washington's sister, who is also her adoptive mother, said Goldring had assaulted and/or threatened family members other than Washington, including Washington’s father and another sister.

Now the U.S. Attorney's Office is dismissing the charge.

USAO Spokesman William Miller said that there is "insufficient evidence to go forward with the prosecution."

Washington's attorney, Wendell Robinson, confirmed the dismissal Wednesday evening. He said formal paperwork is expected to be completed in the case Friday.

Washington has been on supervised release since December.

Goldring's family opposes the dismissal.

"We're frustrated that the justice system has failed us," Emerson Goldring, Mark Goldring's brother, said. "They have all the evidence. She admitted to murder; they have her confession. They have the murder weapon. And they have my brother, who is dead. We would like to see her go to trial, to be judged by her peers, to see justice being served."

Jewell Washington Released, Despite Finding of Substantial Probability, in Brother's Murder Case

Laura Amico — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:39:53 -0500

The woman suspected of killing her half-brother during an argument at their father's Northeast DC home was released from custody today, even though a judge found substantial probability that she killed the man.

Jewell Washington sat quietly through the proceedings Monday, occasionally taking notes while witnesses spoke.

Her half-brother, Mark Goldring, was fatally stabbed on Oct. 11. MPD Homicide Detective Douglas Carlson testified Monday that Washington was at her father's house that day and that Goldring, Goldring's wife, and Goldring's 18-year-old son all lived there. Carlson said Washington argued that afternoon with Goldring's wife about some bedding that Washington had come to pickup.

The wife called Goldring during the argument, warning him that if he did not come home right then, she was going to "F*** [Washington] up," Carlson said.

Washington turned herself into authorities by calling 911 a little more than an hour after the stabbing was reported, Carlson said. In that time, MPD's investigation shows, she texted her boyfriend, saying "I stabbed that bitch," and posted to her Facebook wall: "My life is like a movie. wtf!!!"

Washington's sister, who is also her adoptive mother, testified at the hearing Monday, appearing to back-up what may be a potential claim of self-defense. The sister said Goldring had assaulted and/or threatened family members other than Washington, including Washington's father and another sister.

An investigator for the Public Defender Service also testified. He said that Washington's father (who is also Goldring's father) said that Goldring had threatened him with a baseball bat sized 2-by-4 on two occasions. The investigator said the father characterized Goldring as "a violent person." Of Washington, he was reported to have said "she has always been calm."

Prosecutor Emily Miller argued that Washington visited her father's house daily with her two-year-old child, implying that if Washington had felt that Goldring was dangerous she would not have visited with her child so frequently.

Washington is next due in court Feb. 17.

Jewell Washington's Preliminary Hearing Scheduled for Next Month

Laura Amico — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:38:34 -0500

A preliminary hearing for Jewell Washington was scheduled yesterday for Dec. 5.

The hearing yesterday was to determine who was representing Washington against the second-degree murder charge she is facing in connection with the stabbing death of Mark Goldring. The court determined that Wendell Robinson, a private attorney, is her counsel.

Lawyer Shuffle Causes Delays in Jewell Washington's Preliminary Hearing

Laura Amico — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:07:48 -0500

A preliminary hearing for Jewell Washington was delayed twice this week: once to allow her attorney time to discuss a plea offer with her and again when it could not be determined who was legally representing Washington.

Washington is suspected of second-degree murder in connection with the the Oct. 11 stabbing death of Mark Goldring. Charging documents indicate that Goldring and Washington are half- or step- siblings and that the argument may have been domestic in nature. Washington was presented with the murder charge Oct. 12; her first scheduled preliminary hearing was postponed.

Washington's first appearance before the court this week was Thursday for the rescheduled preliminary hearing.

At that hearing Assistant US Attorney Emily Miller informed Judge Richter that a plea offer had been extended to Washington but that it was only valid until a preliminary hearing was begun. Washington's attorney, to whom the case was transferred Wednesday, said he had not had adequate time to review the offer which sought a guilty plea to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed.

Richter rescheduled the hearing for Friday morning to allow Washington time to discuss the deal with her new attorney.

But at that hearing Friday, Washington and her family could not tell Richter who was representing her. Court records and appearances indicate that William Roberts of the Public Defender's Service was initially appointed to the case. Private attorney Wendell Robinson entered his appearance Thursday and said that he had taken the case and had picked up the case information.

On Friday, Washington's mother and sister, each called before the court, told Richter that they intended for private attorney Justin Okezie to represent Washington but neither said they had discussed the case with him nor paid him.

The case is scheduled to be called again Monday by Judge Gerald Fisher to ascertain who is representing Washington. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the same day.

Comment of the Day: "My prayers go out to both families."

Laura Amico — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:01:41 -0400

This comment of the day comes from Dtee45, who wrote in about Jewell Washington. Washington's preliminary hearing was postponed today to Nov. 10.

My prayers go out to both families. I hope that Jewell will be ok and be reunited with her son oneday and my prayers go out to Mark's family. A wife that loss her husband and children that lost their father. I dop't know what happened but he didn't deserve to die that way. I hope God will intervene and I hope her son drew will be taken care of.

Jewell Washington Ordered Held on Substantial Probability in Tuesday's NE DC Stabbing

Laura Amico — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:56:49 -0400

With her family in the gallery giving her support, 19-year-old Jewell Washington stood before the court this afternoon to answer to charges that she killed 45-year-old Mark Goldring yesterday in a stabbing.

Washington's attorney entered a plea of innocent on her behalf, telling the court that there is a "viable" self-defense claim in the case.

"There is a history of incidents involving the decedent and other members of the family," William Roberts said.

There was no record of a Mark Goldring in DC court records Wednesday afternoon.

Washington and Goldring are "step or half" siblings, Roberts said. They may have lived together previously and Washington told authorities that she was at the West Virginia Ave NE home to pick up some belongings.

Washington was ordered held on substantial probability of second-degree murder. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. with Judge Gerald Fisher.

Read the charging documents below.

Links roundup below:

The Washington Post

The stabbing took place Tuesday around 3 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Virginia Ave NE, near Galludet University, during “an apparent domestic dispute,” according to a message Fifth District Commander Andy Solberg sent to members of the district’s police-community email list.

Solberg said a police officer, who was passing by, was flagged down. He found Goldring suffering from injuries inside the home.

WJLA

Police arrested a 19-year-old woman and charged her with murdering a man on Tuesday in NE D.C.

Police arrested Jewell Washington and charged her with killing 45-year-old Mark Goldring, of NE D.C.

18-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Connection with NE DC Stabbing Tuesday

Laura Amico — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:36:21 -0400

An 18-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a 44-year-old man in Northeast D.C. this afternoon, MPD reports.

According to a message from Commander Andy Solberg, the man was stabbed inside a home in the 1300 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE. He and the woman were involved in an apparent domestic dispute, Solberg said.

This afternoon shortly before 3 pm, a 44 year old resident of a home in the 1300 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE, was stabbed to death during an apparent domestic dispute.

A passing officer was flagged down and found the man inside the home.

An 18 year old woman is in custody in connection with this homicide.

Andy Solberg
Commander, 5D