Robert Crowder | Homicide Watch DC

Murder Charge Dismissed in Case Against Robert Crowder

Megan Arellano — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:39:29 -0400

Robert Crowder was released from jail Friday when Judge Rhonda Winston granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss his case without prejudice. He had been held for more than nine months on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection with the stabbing death of 19-year-old Kelvin Jamal Willis.

In April, Crowder's two codefendants were released after prosecutors dismissed charges against them.

Spokesperson William Miller explained via email that the U.S. Attorney’s Office decided not to go forward with the case, pending further investigation.

According to charging documents for Crowder, Willis told detectives that he was punched and attacked by three people who took his wallet before stabbing him with a knife on November 6, 2010.

A person who saw the stabbing told police that Crowder and two other men were walking with Willis in the unit block of Hanover Street Northwest when the men started talking about robbing Willis of his coat, according to arrest documents. One man punched Willis in his chin, while another pointed a gun at Willis demanding his coat, said the witness.

While Willis took off his coat, Crowder told him, "You're taking too long," then stabbed him multiple times, according to the witness.

Court documents state that another person later saw Crowder carrying a black coat, and after, saw Crowder washing blood from his hands. When the witness asked Crowder where he got the coat, Crowder said that he stabbed someone and believed that he killed the person, the witness told police.

In an interview with police, Crowder said he was never near the scene of the crime, documents say.

Rico Carr and Robert Crowder Held in Connection with Kelvin Willis Murder

Ivan Natividad — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 16:25:20 -0400

Judge Karen Howze ordered Rico Carr and Robert Crowder held Thursday pending a preliminary hearing on October 15. They are suspected of participating in the 2010 stabbing death of 19-year-old Kelvin Jamal Willis. The two men remain held pending a preliminary hearing October 15.

Police found Willis November 6, 2010 at approximately 3:30 am on the unit block of N Street Northwest suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained for more than two weeks.

Arrest documents state that while in the hospital, Willis told police that he was attacked by three men who robbed him of his wallet, then stabbed him several times with a knife. Willis told members of his family that the three men also took his coat, charging documents state.

Willis died from his injuries on Nov. 22, 2010; his death was ruled a homicide.

Police arrested Ladonte Hawkins August 21, and charged him as one of the three alleged suspects who participated in the robbing and stabbing of Willis. More than a month later, police arrested Carr and Crowder on suspicion of first-degree murder in Willis' death.

According to charging documents, witnesses told police that Hawkins, Crowder and Carr were the three people involved in the attack on Willis.

One witness said moments before the stabbing the three suspects were walking with Willis in the mouth of an alley in the unit block of Hanover Street Northwest when Hawkins and Carr began talking about robbing Willis of his coat, documents state. Hawkins punched Willis in his chin, while Carr pointed a gun at Willis demanding his coat. Hawkins reached into Willis’ pocket and took his wallet, the witness said.

As Willis removed his coat, the witness heard Crowder yell, “You’re taking too long.” The witness said Crowder pulled out a knife and stabbed Willis several times, charging documents state.

Another witness told police that they saw Crowder leaving an alley near the crime scene moments after the stabbing.

Court documents state that the witness saw Crowder carrying a black coat, and later saw Crowder washing blood from his hands. When the witness asked Crowder where he got the coat, Crowder said that he stabbed someone, adding that he thought he killed the guy, the witness said according to court documents.

Charging documents state that in an interview with police, Crowder denied ever being at the scene of the crime.

Charging documents have been added to this post.

Crowder, Robert Charging Papers (PDF)Crowder, Robert Charging Papers (Text)

Carr, Rico Charging Papers (PDF)Carr, Rico Charging Papers (Text)

Men Named in Court Documents Arrested in Stabbing Death of Kelvin Willis

Laura Amico — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 18:15:52 -0400

Two men named in court documents in August have been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of Kelvin Willis.

Willis was killed in November 2010 in the unit block of N Street Northwest. In August of this year, Ladonte Hawkins was arrested and ordered held while a grand jury investigates his connection-- if any-- to Willis' death.

In charging documents, detectives named Robert Crowder and Rico Carr and said they were participants in the death. Crowder and Carr were arrested Wednesday and are expected to be presented each with a charge of first-degree murder.

According to charging documents in Hawkins' case, a witness told police that Hawkins, Crowder and Carr were involved in the attack on Willis. The witness said that Hawkins and Carr were talking about robbing Willis of his coat. Hawkins punched Willis in his chin, and Carr pointed a gun at Willis and demanded his coat. Hawkins then reached into Willis’ pocket and took his wallet, the witness said.

As Willis was removing his coat, the witness heard Crowder yell, “You’re taking too long.”

The witness said Crowder then puled out a knife and stabbed Willis several times, charging documents state.

Another witness told police that he saw Crowder leaving an alley near Hanover Street Northwest carrying a black coat. Shortly after, the witness saw Crowder washing blood off his hands, documents say. The witness asked Crowder where he got the coat, and according to the witness, Crowder said he had joined in on a beating that occurred in the alley and that he had stabbed someone.

Detectives later interviewed Crowder, documents in Hawkins' case state, and he said he had not been at the scene of the crime.

A press release from MPD is below.

October 2, 2013

Additional Arrests Made in 2010 Homicide: Unit Block of Hanover Place, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced additional arrests have been made in a fatal stabbing which occurred in the Unit block of Hanover Place, NW.

On Saturday, November 6, 2010, at approximately 3:30 am, units from the Fifth District responded to the Unit block of N Street, NW for the report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival they located a victim suffering from stab wounds. The investigation revealed that the stabbing occurred in the Unit block of Hanover Place, NW. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he was admitted. On November 22, 2010, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 19 year-old Kelvin Willis of Northeast, Washington, DC.

An adult male was arrested on August 21, 2013 and charged with First Degree Murder in connection with this case.

On Wednesday, October 2, 2013, Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Squad arrested 22 year-old Robert Crowder and 23 year-old Rico Carr, pursuant to DC Superior Court arrest warrants charging them with First Degree Murder in the death of Kelvin Willis.