Mark Anthony Coates | Homicide Watch DC

Alex Cater Sentenced to 10 Years in Strangling Death of Leroy Studevant

Clara Pak — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:24:41 -0400

Alex Cater was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the strangling death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant.

"The day started out normal and it ended in tragedy for Mr. Studevant and myself," Cater said about New Year's Eve 2011, the night Studevant died. "If I could take it back, I would."

Police arrested Cater five months after Studevant was found dead in Marvin Gaye Park with a broken knife blade under his body and belt around his neck. His death was recognized as the first homicide of 2012. Cater's arrest came after his jacket tested positive for Studevant's blood. He was later held and indicted on first-degree murder and robbery charges.

"It was a terrible crime partially because it was senseless and partially because it was violent," said Judge Lynn Leibovitz before handing down the 10 year sentence.

Studevant's death stemmed from a dispute when the victim refused to give Cater a cigarette, court documents state.

Mark Coates, a codefendant in the case, was sentenced in September to 23 years in prison.

Coates pleaded guilty in July, one month after Cater pleaded guilty, to second-degree murder while armed in connection with Studevant's murder.

Mark Coates Sentenced to 23 Years for Leroy Studevant Murder

Ivan Natividad — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:35:42 -0400

Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced Mark Anthony Coates Monday to 23 years in prison for the December 2011 death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant.

"There is absolutely nothing in your background to justify what you did," Judge Dixon said. "I really wish you had walked away, or intervened to help."

Prosecutors said Monday that Coates helped to kill a man over 30 years older than him during a fight for a cigarette. Studevant was found stabbed and strangled in a Northeast DC park on New Year's Eve 2011. His death was ruled the first homicide of 2012.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for the family's loss," Coates said Monday. "It wasn't supposed to be this way."

On December 31, 2011 around 7:30 am police found Studevant dead on the 4200 block of Hunt Place Northeast. A medical examiner determined Studevant’s cause of death to be strangulation associated with piercing blunt force trauma; the death was ruled a homicide. More than a year later, Coates and his alleged accomplice, Alex Cater, were both arrested and held in suspicion of Studevant's death.

Coates pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder while armed in connection with Studevant's murder; one month after Cater pleaded guilty.

Court documents state Studevant was killed in a dispute over a cigarette.

The morning of the murder, Coates, Cater and Studevant were walking down 42nd Street Northeast, when Cater got upset because Studevant would not give him a cigarette. Cater forced Studevant into a park nearby, Coates followed, and the two began beating Studevant.

During the assault, Studevant managed to break away and run across the park. Coates and Cater chased Studevant, and cornered him. Cater then pulled out a knife and stabbed Studevant. Cater gave the knife to Coates who also stabbed him. The two then continued to beat Studevant, kicking him while on the ground, documents state.

Documents state that Coates then removed the belt from Studevant’s waist and choked him with it until he no longer resisted.

Press release below

District Man Sentenced to 23-Year Prison Term For 2011 Strangling at Northeast Washington Park-Victim Was Stabbed, Choked and Robbed in Late-Night Attack-

WASHINGTON – Mark Coates, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 23-year prison term on a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the slaying of a man at a park in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Coates pled guilty in July 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. Upon completion of his prison term, Coates will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, between 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, and 1 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, Coates and an accomplice forced the victim, Leroy Studevant, 56, into the Marvin Gaye Park in the 4200 block of Hunt Place NE, where they punched and kicked him.

During the assault, Mr. Studevant managed to escape, and he ran across the park. However, Coates and the accomplice chased Mr. Studevant through the park, until Coates ultimately cut off Mr. Studevant’s flight path. Using a knife, Coates and his accomplice then stabbed Mr. Studevant. After forcing Mr. Studevant to the ground, Coates and his accomplice kicked him, and Coates was able to unhook and remove Mr. Studevant’s belt from around his waist. The belt was placed around Mr. Studevant’s neck as a noose, and he was choked with the belt until he no longer resisted. During the altercation, a wallet and cell phone were removed from Mr. Studevant’s pockets. Coates and his accomplice split the money in the wallet.

An autopsy determined that Mr. Studevant died as a result of the strangling and assault in the park. The reason for the attack was because the victim would not share his cigarettes.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kendra Johnson, Ethel Nobel, Marian Russell, and Sandra Lane; Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince; Victim Witness Security Specialist Katina Adams-Washington; Investigator Nelson Rhone; and Intelligence Specialists Lawrence Grasso, Zachary McMenamin, Shannon Alexis, and Sharon Johnson. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Nielsen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Feitel, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Mark Anthony Coates Pleads Guilty in Connection with Leroy Studevant Murder

Ivan Natividad — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 14:44:20 -0400

Mark Anthony Coates, one of two suspects arrested in connection with the 2011 strangulation death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder while armed.

"I just want to say that I'm sorry for my actions," Coates, 28, said in entering his plea.

Coates was arrested June 11, more than two years after police found Studevant dead in Marvin Gaye Park with a broken knife blade under his body and a belt around his neck. A medical examiner determined Studevant's cause of death to be strangulation associated with piercing blunt force trauma.

According to Coates' plea documents, sometime before 1:00 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2011, Coates, Alex Cater and Studevant were walking down 42nd Street Northeast. Along the way, Cater got upset because Studevant would not give him a cigarette. So he forced Studevant into nearby Marvin Gaye Park and began assaulting him; Coates followed, documents say.

During the assault, Studevant managed to break away and run across the park. Coates and Cater chased Studevant, and after they cornered him, Cater pulled out a knife and stabbed him. Cater then gave the knife to Coates who also stabbed Studevant.

Plea documents say Cater pushed Studevant to the ground and then he and Coates began kicking him. While Studevant was on the ground, Coates removed the belt from Studevant’s waist and choked him with it until he no longer resisted, documents say.

During the altercation, a wallet and cell phone were removed from Studevant’s pockets. Documents say Coates took money from the wallet, which he and Cater shared.

Coates is scheduled to be sentenced September 23.

Cater pled guilty in connection with Studevant's death last month. He is scheduled for a status hearing August 20.

Plea documents and a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office is below.

District Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder While Armed In 2011 Strangling at Northeast Washington Park -Victim Was Stabbed, Choked and Robbed in Late-Night Attack-

WASHINGTON – Mark Coates, 28, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the December 2011 slaying of a man at a park in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Coates pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Sept. 23, 2013.

According to the government’s evidence, between 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, and 1 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, Coates and an accomplice forced the victim, Leroy Studevant, 56, into the Marvin Gaye Park in the 4200 block of Hunt Place NE, where they punched and kicked him.

During the assault, Mr. Studevant managed to escape, and he ran across the park. However, Coates and the accomplice chased Mr. Studevant through the park, until Coates ultimately cut off Mr. Studevant’s flight path. Using a knife, Coates and his accomplice then stabbed Mr. Studevant. After forcing Mr. Studevant to the ground, Coates and his accomplice kicked him, and Coates was able to unhook and remove Mr. Studevant’s belt from around his waist. The belt was placed around Mr. Studevant’s neck as a noose, and he was choked with the belt until he no longer resisted. During the altercation, a wallet and cell phone were removed from Mr. Studevant’s pockets. Coates and his accomplice split the money in the wallet.

An autopsy determined that Mr. Studevant died as a result of the strangling and assault in the park. The reason for the attack was because the victim would not share his cigarettes.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kendra Johnson, Ethel Nobel, Marian Russell, and Sandra Lane; Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince; Victim Witness Security Specialist Katina Adams-Washington; Investigator Nelson Rhone; and Intelligence Specialists Lawrence Grasso, Zachary McMenamin, Shannon Alexis, and Sharon Johnson. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Nielsen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Feitel, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Alex Cater Pleads Guilty in Connection with Leroy Studevant Murder

Penny Ray — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:41:13 -0400

Alex Cater, one of the two suspects held in connection with the 2011 strangulation death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant, pleaded guilty Wednesday.

Court documents, though, are not clear as to what charge Cater pled guilty to, saying only that Cater, 31, and the government "enter into the following plea agreement pursuant to attached paperwork." The attachments were not available at DC Superior Court Thursday.

Cater was arrested May 18, 2012, five months after police found Studevant dead in Marvin Gaye Park with a belt tied around his neck and three puncture wounds to his upper body. Cater was later held and indicted on first-degree murder and robbery charges.

Mark Coates, a co-defendant in the case, was arrested two weeks ago and held on a charge of felony murder in connection with Studevant's death.

Charging documents related to Coates’ arrest say that a witness, who has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, told detectives that Studevant was killed after refusing to give up a cigarette.

Cater is scheduled for a status hearing August 20. Coates is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday.

Plea documents will be added to this post when they are available.

Judge Orders Mark Coates Held in Connection with Leroy Studevant Murder

Megan Arellano — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:43:49 -0400

Judge Lori Parker found substantial probability Wednesday that Mark Anthony Coates participated in the strangulation death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant. Coates, 28, who is the second suspect to be arrested in connection with Studevant's death, has been held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 28.

On December 31, 2011, around 7:30 a.m., Studevant was found dead in Marvin Gaye Park with a belt tied around his neck and three puncture wounds to his upper body; a broken knife blade lay underneath him. The next day, a medical examiner determined that Studevant’s cause of death was "strangulation associated with piercing blunt force trauma;" it was ruled the first homicide of 2012.

Police arrested Coates Tuesday on a charge of felony murder in connection with the case; Alex Cater was arrested in the case in May last year and is charged with first-degree murder. Court records show that a July trial date for Cater was just recently vacated.

Charging documents related to Coates' arrest say that a witness, who has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, told detectives that Studevant's death stemmed from his refusal to let others have a cigarette.

The witness told police that he, Coates and Studevant spent the evening of December 30, 2011, playing cards and drinking. At the end of the evening, Coates and the witness walked Studevant to the Minnesota Avenue Metro station. Along the way, Studevant was asked for a cigarette and refused, so Coates and the witness forced Studevant to a dark location and assaulted him.

During the assault, Coates pulled out a knife and the two suspects "punched, kicked, stabbed and strangled" Studevant until he stopped resisting. Then, Coates took money and a cell phone from Studevant's pockets, charging documents say.

The witness is not identified in the charging documents.

Coates was arrested January 2, 2012, on an unrelated charge and police noticed a cut on his hand. During the interrogation, his clothes were seized as evidence, and forensics experts later determined that blood stains on his jeans matched Studevant's DNA, according to the documents.

Arrest documents are below.

Mark Coates Arrest Documents (PDF)Mark Coates Arrest Documents (Text)

Mark Anthony Coats Arrested in Connection with Leroy Studevant Murder

Penny Ray — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:46:36 -0400

A second suspect in connection with the 2011 murder of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant was arrested Tuesday.

Mark Anthony Coats, 28, of Northeast D.C. was arrested Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection Studevant's death.

Police found Studevant dead in Marvin Gaye Park on December 31, 2011, with a broken knife blade under his body and a belt around his neck. Alex Cater was held in connection with the case last year.

A press relase from MPD is below.

Arrest Made in Homicide in the 4200 Block of Hunt Place, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the strangulation and stabbing homicide of Leroy Studevant that occurred in the 4200 block of Hunt Place, NE.

On Saturday, December 31, 2011, shortly after 7:30 am, units from the Sixth District responded to the 4200 block of Hunt Place, NE for the report of an unconscious male near a creek under a pathway. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene and determined the male had no signs of life. He was later pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. On Sunday, January 1, 2012, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death as homicide. The cause of death was ruled as strangulation associated with piercing blunt force trauma.

The decedent was identified as 56 year-old Leroy Studevant of Northeast, DC.

On Friday, May 18, 2012, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested an adult male of Northeast, DC pursuant to an arrest warrant and charged him with Murder Two while Armed in the homicide of Leroy Studevant.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, arrested 28 year-old Mark Anthony Coats of Northeast, DC, charging him with First Degree Murder While Armed in the homicide of Leroy Studevant.