John William Smith Jr. | Homicide Watch DC

26 Year Prison Sentence for Stabbing Death of Elaine Coleman

Laura Amico — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:55:09 -0400

John Smith was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for the stabbing death of Elaine Coleman, who was found dead in her apartment on Dec. 4.

According to charging documents, Coleman, 47, was stabbed 41 times and had been nearly decapitated. Some of the wounds could have been inflicted using a pair of scissors, the medical examiner noted.

Charging documents elaborate that Smith, 47, pleaded guilty in Baltimore in 2005 to a count of manslaughter. He had been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in a stabbing death in which a pair of scissors was used as the murder weapon.

The maximum charge in the case was 40 years.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below.

Baltimore Man Sentenced to 26-Year Prison Term In December 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington -Victim Was Stabbed Multiple Times-

WASHINGTON - John Smith, 47, of Baltimore Md., was sentenced today to 26 years in prison in connection with the recent slaying of a woman in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Smith pled guilty in January 2012 to a charge of second degree murder while armed. He was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Honorable Robert E. Morin.

At the plea hearing, Smith admitted that between December 2, 2011, and December 3, 2011, he was with the victim, Elaine Coleman, 47, inside her home in the 500 block of 23rd Place NE. During this time, he stabbed Ms. Coleman numerous times, and she died as a result of her injuries. Smith was arrested on January 3, 2012.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, including Detectives Anthony Patterson, Paul Regan, Douglas Carlson Sean Cain, and Anthony Paci, and Crime Scene Search Officer Curtis Lancaster. He also commended Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney and Victim Witness Advocate Tamara Ince of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Finally, he praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Cobb, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Guilty Plea in Stabbing Death of Elaine Coleman

Laura Amico — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:59:36 -0500

John Smith pleaded guilty this morning to one count of second-degree murder while armed in the stabbing death of Elaine Coleman.

Smith, 46, could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison, said Judge Robert Morin, who heard the case.

Prosecutor Charles Cobb told Morin that had the case gone to trial, the government would have proved that Smith stabbed Coleman multiple times sometime between Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, killing her.

When asked by Judge Morin if that was what happened, Smith replied "yes it was."

According to charging documents, Coleman, 47, was found dead in her apartment on Dec. 4. Her body was so badly injured that responding medics initially believed she had been shot in the face. An autopsy revealed that she had been stabbed— 41 times— and had been nearly decapitated. Some of the wounds could have been inflicted using a pair of scissors, the medical examiner noted.

Charging documents elaborate that Smith pleaded guilty in Baltimore in 2005 to a count of manslaughter. He had been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in a stabbing death in which a pair of scissors was used as the murder weapon.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 30 at 11 a.m.

A press release from the USAO has been added below.

Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Murder In December 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington-Victim Was Stabbed Multiple Times-

WASHINGTON - John Smith, 46, of Baltimore Md., pled guilty today to a charge of second degree murder while armed in connection with the recent slaying of a woman in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Smith pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and will be sentenced on March 30, 2012, by the Honorable Robert E. Morin. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

At the plea hearing, Smith admitted that between December 2, 2011, and December 3, 2011, he was with the decedent, Elaine Coleman, 47, inside her home in the 500 block of 23rd Place SE. During this time, he stabbed the victim numerous times, and she died as a result of her injuries. Smith was arrested on January 3, 2012.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), including Detectives Anthony Patterson, Paul Regan, Douglas Carlson Sean Cain, and Anthony Paci, and Crime Scene Search Officer Curtis Lancaster. He also commended Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney and Victim Witness Advocate Tamara Ince of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Finally, he praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Cobb, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

John William Smith Jr. Held in Stabbing Death of Girlfriend, Elaine Coleman

Laura Amico — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:39:04 -0500

To friends and neighbors, Elaine Coleman was a cheerful smiling face, but at home she struggled in a troubled relationship with a convicted killer.

Coleman, 47, was found dead in her apartment on Dec. 4. Her body was so badly injured that responding medics initially believed she had been shot in the face. An autopsy revealed that she had been stabbed-- 41 times-- and had been nearly decapitated. Some of the wounds could have been inflicted using a pair of scissors, the medical examiner noted.

Police say Coleman's boyfriend, John William Smith Jr, is responsible for her violent death. He appeared in court Wednesday to be presented with the charge of second-degree murder while armed. Charging documents do not state what the weapon he is believed to have been armed with is.

According to witness accounts included in the charging documents, Coleman and Smith, 46, had a tumultuous relationship. One person said Smith was "possessive" of Coleman and would frequently call her to see where she was and who she was with. Coleman would kick Smith out of her house, "infuriating" him, the charging documents say.

The disagreements may have intensified when Smith received a financial settlement, a witness said. When told of the money, Coleman asked that Smith assist her in paying her mortgage. The witness said Smith said that if Coleman was using him for his money he would kill her. He added that he had served time for manslaughter.

Smith was ordered held Wednesday and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 18 with Judge Ronna Beck.

Man Arrested in Stabbing Death of Elaine Coleman

Laura Amico — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:50:50 -0500

A man wanted by MPD in connection with the fatal stabbing of Elaine Coleman has been arrested, MPD announced Tuesday night.

John William Smith Jr., 46, was named as a suspect in Coleman's death just before New Years Eve. He was believed to be in Baltimore. He was arrested Tuesday at about 4 p.m.; MPD did not say where he was arrested.

He's suspected of second degree murder while armed.

A press release is below.

January 3, 2012

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 500 Block of 23rd Place, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 500 block of 23rd Place, NE.

On December 4, 2011, at approximately 12:28 am, units from the First District responded to the 500 block of 23rd Place, NE for the report of an unconscious subject. Upon arriving on the scene officers located an adult female inside of the location identified as 47 year-old Elaine Coleman of Northeast, Washington, DC, suffering from stab wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel determined that there were no signs of life. The victim was pronounced dead by a member from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

On Tuesday, January 03, 2012, at approximately 4:00 pm, members from the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 46 year-old John William Smith Jr., of no fixed address, pursuant to an arrest warrant and charged him with Murder Two while Armed in the homicide of Elaine Coleman.