Ronald Page | Homicide Watch DC

Judge: Ronald Page "You Blamed Everyone Except Yourself," Gets 20 Years for Stepson's Murder

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:27:07 -0400

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Ronald Page to 20 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of his stepson, 22-year-old Nicholas Ray Satcher.

Page addressed the court Friday for over half an hour often breaking down into tears while talking about his life, his dreams, and his family.

But when it came to his stepson's shooting, Page seemed to place blame on his family, and claimed he was being attacked by Satcher and that he shot him in self-defense.

"I did not kill Nicholas," Page said. "The situation was brought on by Nicholas, and his actions killed him."

Police found Satcher on January 5, 2011 at approximately 7:20 pm on the 4200 block of Gault Place Northeast suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Satcher was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead. Page, 58, was arrested later that day and charged with first-degree murder while armed, but was put on release throughout the duration of his trial.

Judge Canan called Page's remarks at sentencing Friday "completely out of touch."

"The fact that you're blaming virtually everyone except yourself, it's inconceivable," Judge Canan said. "Your conduct was outrageous sir."

Page was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed, and related weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of his step-son in June.

During trial, Page's son, Adrian, told jurors that an argument he had with his father led to his brother's death.

In an attempt to intervene in a disagreement over skipping school and an Xbox game system, Satcher stood between the two and said, “You’re not gonna shoot my brother.”

According to witnesses, Ronald Page then told Satcher to leave the house. While Satcher was collecting clothes from his room, the witnesses heard a gunshot.

Page rejected two government plea offers in the case, the last offer in May would have given him a 4-year sentence for Satcher's death.

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

District Man Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonFor Confrontation Ending With Slaying of 22-Year-Old Stepson
-Shooting Followed Argument in Family’s Northeast Washington Home-

WASHINGTON – Ronald Page, 61, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed and other charges in a confrontation that ended with the slaying of his adult stepson, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Page was found guilty by a jury in June 2013 following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to the murder charge, the jury found him guilty of charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and firearms offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan.

According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 5, 2011, shortly after 7 p.m., Page was engaged in verbal argument with his 17-year-old son inside their family home in Northeast Washington. The defendant’s two adult stepsons were present during the argument. At one point, Page attempted to pick up a dining room chair and strike his son. However, one of the stepsons, Nicholas Satcher, 22, stopped him from doing so and told Page that he would not permit him to strike his little brother. Page then left the argument.

Rather than let the argument go, Page retrieved a gun. He pointed it at his son and one of his stepsons, Nicholas Satcher, 22. Then he ordered Nicholas Satcher to leave the room. Nicholas Satcher agreed to leave, but his stepfather followed him and fired the gun, fatally wounding him.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the officers, detectives and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Mia Beamon, Kelly Blakeney, Kendra Johnson, Sharon Newman and Marian Russell; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Criminal Investigator Christopher Brophy. He also expressed appreciation to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Cobb, who investigated the case and secured the indictment. Finally, he thanked Jeffrey Ragsdale, Chief of the office’s Homicide Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Worm, who prosecuted the case.

Jury Finds Ronald Page Guilty of Stepson's Murder

Penny Ray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:24:13 -0400

Ronald Page was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of his step-son, Nicholas Ray Satcher.

Jurors in the case announced their verdict after deliberating for one day.

Page, who was on release throughout the duration of his trial, has been held until sentencing.

According to trial testimony, Satcher, who was Page's step-son, intervened in an argument between Page and his biological son Adrian Page. The argument began after Ronald Page learned that Adrian had skipped school that day, and quickly escalated when Adrian refused to hand over his Xbox game system as punishment. During the course of the argument, Adrian Page took a swing at his father and then Ronald Page retrieved a gun from his room.

Satcher then stood between the two and said, “You're not gonna shoot my brother.”

Witnesses testified that Ronald Page told Satcher to leave the house, and while Satcher was collecting clothes from his room, they heard a gunshot.

“I don't know why [Ronald Page] pulled the trigger,” a family friend who attended the trial said. “I don't really think he meant to do that, but by going and getting the gun, that's why he's where he's at now.”

Page is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Russell Canan September 13.

Prosecutor: Ronald Page Wanted to Show Sons "who was in control"

Megan Arellano — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:20:08 -0400

During closing arguments Monday, prosecutors told jurors that Ronald Page pulled a gun on his two sons "to show them who was in control." Page's defense attorneys argued that the firing of that gun, which resulted in the death of Page's step-son, Nicholas Ray Satcher, was accidental.

Page is charged with second-degree murder and related weapons offenses in connection with Satcher's death, which resulted from an argument that occurred between Ronald and his biological son, Adrian Page, in January 2011. According to trial testimony, Satcher intervened in an attempt to calm the argument, and was subsequently shot and killed.

Prosecutors conceded that Adrian Page was "defiant" in the confrontation with his father over his attendance at school, and he testified that he refused to hand over his Xbox, "because I paid for it." Prosecutor Lara Worm acknowledged, "You can imagine how he [Adrian] would get someone angry."

"But use your common sense," Worm said. "The defendant wasn't afraid of his little son."

When Ronald Page returned with a Colt 45 and racked the gun in front of his sons, the action was "to show them who was in control," prosecutors argued. Racking the gun, along with Ronald Page's decisions to disarm the slide safety and the grip safety, showed a definitive conscious disregard of the family's safety according to the prosecution.

Satcher, Adrian Page's half brother and Ronald Page's step-son, intervened in the argument to settle things peacefully after Ronald Page retrieved a gun from his room. Ronald Page then told Satcher to leave the house. While Satcher was collecting clothes from his room, there was a gunshot.

Kia Sears, Page's defense attorney, argued that the gunshot was accidental, and the result of a confrontation that left Ronald Page in fear of his life. "[Ronald Page] ran toward the back of the house, realized he had no escape," and returned with the gun in a hurry to leave, Sears told the court.

Page did not resist Annie Satcher when she took the gun away from him after Nicholas Satcher was shot, Sears reminded the jury, nor did he leave the house after the police were called. In her closing, Sears pointed out that Annie Satcher testified that Ronald Page "looked stunned" after the gunshot.

"Stunned," Sears said, "is how you look when a gun accidentally fires."

Prosecutors argued that Ronald Page "had no right to arm himself" in the disagreement. Page's choice to arm himself, Worm said, showed a "conscious disregard" for the family's safety.

Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday morning.

On Stand, Ronald Page's Son Testifies that Refusal to Give Up Xbox Led to Brother's Death

Penny Ray — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:12:54 -0400

Ronald Page's son Adrian took the stand Thursday at his father's murder trial, telling jurors about the argument he had with his father that left his half-brother, Nicholas Ray Satcher, dead.

Adrian Page said that while growing up he had a “good” relationship with his mother and father; Ronald Page provided everything the family needed, Adrian said. About a week before the shooting, Adrian Page was suspended from Spingarn High School, and at the conclusion of his suspension, he decided that he had had enough of school.

On January 5, 2011, the day Adrian was to return to Spingarn, Ronald Page received a call from school officials saying that Adrian did not attend. This frustrated his father, Adrian said; and that evening the two argued in the kitchen.

Ronald Page told his son to hand over his Xbox game system as punishment for not going to school, but Adrian refused “because I paid for it,” he told the court. Then, as Adrian walked away, Ronald Page followed him into the living room, picked up a chair and was about to hit him with it when Nicholas Satcher, Adrian's half-brother and Page's step-son, stepped in. Satcher grabbed the chair, pushed Adrian out of the way and told the father and son to calm down.

Adrian, now upset that his father had tried to hit him with a chair, took a swing at Ronald Page.

Page then went into his room and retrieved a gun, Adrian told the jury.

When Ronald Page returned to the living room, he pointed the gun at Adrian, but Satcher stepped between the two and said, “You're not gonna shoot my brother.”

Page then told Satcher to get out of the way and leave the house; so Satcher walked past Page to a room he and Adrian shared to collect some clothes.

Adrian testified that his father followed Satcher to the room; moments later there was a gunshot. “All I heard was my brother scream,” he said.

The defense says the shooting was accidental.

Dr. Pamela Southall, a forensic pathologist, testified Thursday that Satcher suffered two gunshot wounds: one to his left forearm and one to his left chest. Prosecutors believe a single bullet is responsible for both wounds. Southall said the bullet perforated Satcher's heart and aorta, and then penetrated his spine. There was “no evidence of close range firing,” she said.

Daniel Barrett, a forensic firearms examiner, testified that the 1911 Colt .45 caliber handgun used to murder Satcher had several safety features “equal to or greater than the average pistol.”

“In order to fire the gun, you'd have to grip the gun handle hard enough to disengage the grip safety and then pull the trigger,” Barrett said.

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday morning in Judge Russell Canan's courtroom.

"I thought it was over," Witness Says in Ronald Page Murder Trial

Megan Arellano — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:33:57 -0400

During opening statements in the murder trial against Ronald Page Wednesday, prosecutors argued that Page had "no right to arm himself" in the disagreement with his son, which resulted in the shooting death of Nicholas Ray Satcher.

Page's defense attorneys responded that the shooting was accidental; "threatening conduct" pushed Page to "the only choice he could think of to protect himself," they said.

Page is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of his stepson, Nicholas Satcher, which occurred during the course of an argument with his biological son, Adrian Page, inside the family's home in January 2011.

The first day of testimony in the case focused on the family: both Satcher's mother, Annie Stacher, and brother, Craig Satcher, testified.

Annie Satcher told jurors that the fatal argument was about skipping school. She said that the father and son argued frequently and so she remained in her room with the door shut until she heard a commotion in the dining room. After Nicholas Satcher was shot, she took the weapon from Page and called 911.

He then waited in the back of the house until police arrived, Annie Satcher testified.

Nicholas Satcher's brother, Craig Satcher, testified that he and Nicholas tried to keep Ronald and Adrian Page separated as the argument escalated. Ronald Page stepped away, he said, saying, "I got something to get you out of the way."

When Ronald Page returned with a gun, the brothers refused to leave.

Nicholas Satcher stood in front of Adrian Page, and said "I won't let you shoot my brother," Craig Satcher said.

Craig Satcher testified that he tried to diffuse the situation by saying, "This is your boys; you raised us. What are you doing?" Ronald Page then lowered the gun and told Nicholas to get his things and leave.

"I thought it was over," Craig Satcher said.

Then he heard the gunshot.

The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday in Judge Russell Canan's courtroom.

Ronald Page Rejects a Second Plea Offer

Megan Arellano — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:39 -0400

Prosecutors have been in plea discussions with Ronald Page since at least November 2012, but Friday, Page turned down a second plea offer. Page is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three firearm possession charges in connection with the death of his step-son, 22-year-old Nicholas Ray Satcher.

"I'm not going to accept [the plea offer]," Page said, adding that it was, "solely my decision."

The revised offer would have come with a 48 month sentence. The deal was offered in the hope that the victim's family would not be subject to further hardship said the prosecution.

Page is accused of shooting his step-son on January 5, 2011, when Satcher intervened in a fight between Page and his biological son Adrian Page. Ronald Page claims that he planned to shoot at the ceiling, but faltered when the boys lunged at him.

With no plea agreement, the case will move forward to a trial. The prosecution promised a "fairly quick" trial of three to four days with no more than ten witnesses. The defense expressed their intent to call two or three witnesses.

Since his preliminary hearing in January 2011, Page has been under high-intensity supervision. As a condition of his release, Page cannot be near his home, nor can he have contact with his wife or sons.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for May 17th at 10:30 a.m..

Ronald Page Rejects Plea Offer in Nicholas Satcher Murder

Penny Ray — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:26:20 -0500

Ronald Page rejected a plea deal on Friday, paving the way for a June trial on charges that he shot and killed his step-son, Nicholas Ray Satcher, in Jan. 2011.

Prosecutors had offered to drop all other charges in exchange for a plea to guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery Ragsdale said.

Page, 58, is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three firearm possession charges in connection with Satcher's death.

Satcher, 22, died from a shotgun blast to the chest in Jan. 2011.

Page has been released from DC Jail and ordered to remain under high-intensity supervision since his preliminary hearing in Jan. 2011. He is not allowed near his home, nor can he have contact with his wife or sons.

At the time of the incident, Page admitted that he shot Satcher, but insisted it was an accident.

At Page's preliminary hearing last year, Page said he had only planned to shoot at the ceiling in order to scare Satcher and Page's biological son, Adrian Page. But when the two boys “lunged at him,” Page said he shot Satcher.

Homicide Detective Jeff Clay, who testified at the preliminary hearing, said Page had confronted his younger son about missing school. When Page attempted to attack his son with a chair, Satcher intervened to defend his step-brother, Clay said.

Satcher's brother, Craig, and mother, were both in the home at the time of the shooting. After taking the gun from Page, his wife called the police at Page's request, prosecutors say.

A trial readiness hearing has been scheduled for May 17, 2013, and Page's trial is set to begin June 3, 2013.

Ronald Page Pleads Innocent in Shooting Death of Stepson

Laura Amico — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:58:32 -0400

Ronald Page pleaded innocent today to a charge of second-degree murder for the shooting death of his stepson, Nicholas Satcher, in January at the family's home in Northeast DC.

According to charging documents in the case, Page had been in an argument with his 17-year-old son when Satcher stepped between the two.

Said Satcher's brother, Craig Satcher, "He said 'you're not going to shoot my brother you're gonna shoot me. My brother stood in front of that barrel for his little brother ... it's rough and hard that he had to go but at least he went out like a man."

Page's defense attorney, Larry Kupers, maintains the shooting was unintentional. Page said he planned to shoot only at the ceiling of the home to scare Satcher and Page’s biological son, Adrian. But when the two boys “lunged at him,” Page shot Satcher, Kupers said.

Page was arraigned on the second-degree murder charge Tuesday, as well as two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of possession of a firearm.

He was released from custody after his preliminary hearing in January and remains free. He is due back in court July 14 for a status hearing in his case.

Ronald Page Released from Jail Following First-Degree Murder Preliminary Hearing

Heather Somerville — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:37:34 -0500

A man charged with murdering his stepson sat in a nearly empty courtroom on Friday while a D.C. homicide detective described the events that lead to the killing on Jan. 5.

The family and friends of Ronald Page did not attend the preliminary hearing for the 58-year-old D.C. murder suspect. Instead, they were at the funeral for Page’s stepson, Nicholas Satcher. While Satcher, 22, was being buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Maryland Friday morning, a D.C. Superior Court Judge was finding probable cause the murder case against Page, the man who had raised Satcher.

Page is accused of shooting Satcher in the family’s home on the 4200 block of Gault Place, NE. Page identified himself as the shooter when police arrived at the scene, according to court documents. Satcher died later that night of gunshot wounds to the chest.

The question now is if Page will face first-degree or second-degree murder charges in the upcoming trial. According to defense attorney Lawrence Kupers, Page said he planned to shoot only at the ceiling of the home to scare Satcher and Page’s biological son, Adrian Page. But when the two boys “lunged at him,” Ronald shot Satcher, according Kupers.

The prosecution argued that Adrian, 17, is about 5-foot-6, 130 pounds, and Satcher is shorter than Adrian and about 5 pounds heavier, according to a police description. Ronald, however, is an imposing figure at more than 350 pounds.

“The court can see how big Mr. Page is. There wasn’t the element of fear,” argued Charles Cobb with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of D.C.

Judge Gerald Fisher said it would be hard to prove the murder was premeditated, but that the case “certainly has the elements of second-degree murder,” he said. The next hearing is April 1.

In his testimony, Metro Police Homicide Detective Jeff Clay told the court a fight between Ronald and Adrian escalated to murder after Satcher intervened to defend his brother. Ronald had confronted Adrian about missing school, and Adrian, the lead witness, told police “his father was in his face,” Clay said.

When Ronald tried to attack Adrian with a chair, Satcher jumped in to stop him. Ronald then retrieved his gun, stood in the doorway of the bedroom and shot Satcher, who was preparing to leave the house, Clay said.

Police recovered a shotgun and two handguns from the residence. Ronald frequently brandished a gun in and around the house, family members told police.

Satcher’s brother, Craig Satcher, and mother, Annie, were also in the home at the time of the murder. After her son was shot, Annie took the gun from Ronald and called the police at her husband’s request, according to interviews with police.

Page was released from jail into high-intensity supervision, where he will have a curfew, will not be allowed near his home and cannot have any contact with his wife or sons.

Heather Somerville is a freelance reporter in Washington, DC. She holds a Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and recently completed a three-month investigation into national security and climate change, called Global Warning. Her email address is somerville.heather [at] gmail.com

A Suspect and Victim "all in the same family"

Laura Amico — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:10:20 -0500

Tomorrow morning when Craig Satcher is burying his brother Nicholas, there is one family member that won't be there: the mens' stepfather, who has an appointment that same hour in D.C. Superior Court. As Nicholas Satcher is buried, Ronald Page will likely be listening to a homicide detective describe his stepson's last moments and why Page is suspected in the murder.

"My brother and stepfather are all in the same family," Craig Satcher said. "I can't even look at things the same."

Nicholas Satcher was shot in the chest at about 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at his mother's and stepfather's home in the 4200 block of Gault Place, NE. He was transported by EMS to a local hospital and died that night. Ronald Page was detained at the scene of the shooting and arrested that night on homicide charges. According to charging documents Page had been in an argument with his 17-year-old son before the shooting.

This week Craig Satcher told Homicide Watch D.C. that that argument was about the 17-year-old skipping class periods at school. When the verbal argument turned physical, Nicholas Satcher stepped between his stepfather and younger brother, Craig Satcher said.

"My brother was a hero. We can mourn him but we don't mourn heroes, we celebrate their lives. He died protecting his brother. He said 'you're not going to shoot my brother you're gonna shoot me. My brother stood in front of that barrel for his little brother ... it's rough and hard that he had to go but at least he went out like a man."

Satcher said his brother, who went by Nick, was an electrician who occasionally worked with Page, who is in construction. The 22-year-old had a six month old son, Nick Jr., and had recently gotten engaged to marry the child's mother. Said Satcher,

Nick was a funny guy. Whenever you had a problem Nick could make you laugh, make you smile. Nick was always the fun dude, he was a real loving dude.

Nicholas Satcher's funeral is Friday morning at Cedar Hill Funeral Home in Suitland, Md. A viewing is at 10 a.m. and the funeral begins at 11 a.m.

Ronald Page's preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Judge Kimberley Knowles courtroom (301). Page is represented by attorney Lawrence Kupers.

Update Jan. 14 1:30 p.m. Nicholas Satcher's obituary is online here.

Metro Police release on Gault Pl. NE Shooting

Laura Amico — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:50:42 -0500

Metro Police released the following information today about the death of Nicholas Satcher and subsequent arrest of Ronald Page:

January 6, 2011
Arrest Made in Homicide in the 4200 Block of Gault Place, NE

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting which occurred in the 4200 block of Gault Place, NE.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at approximately 7:20 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 4200 block of Gault Place, NE, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival on the scene, they located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 22-year-old Nicholas Satcher of Northeast, DC.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 58-year-old Ronald Page of Northeast, DC was arrested and charged with Murder One while Armed.

Charging documents in the case are online here.

Man charged in Gault Pl homicide of Nicholas Satcher

Laura Amico — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:29:10 -0500

A man detained by police soon after the shooting death of Nicholas Satcher in Northeast DC last night has told police that he is the one responsible for the shooting. Satcher is Page's step-son.

That's according to charging documents filed against Ronald Page in DC Superior Court today and arguments made at Page's arraignment this afternoon. Page is charged with first degree murder charge.

According to the complaint, Page had been involved in a "verbal altercation" with his son and Satcher before the shooting.

Page lives at the Gault Place residence where Satcher was shot.

Satcher was found by medics unconscious and unresponsive in the home's living room. He was transported to Prince George's County Hospital and pronounced dead just before 8 p.m.

Page was ordered held without bond on the murder charge and is expected in court Jan. 14 for a preliminary hearing.

Gault Pl. Homicide was a “Domestic Situation” says Lanier

Laura Amico — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:38:14 -0500

Police Chief Cathy Lanier on WTOP radio this morning spoke about last night's homicide.

It was a domestic case. There was an arrest made on the scene. So that case is closed

The information comes in minute 2:28 of the interview.

Man Killed in NE D.C. Shooting

Laura Amico — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:18:03 -0500

A shooting just before 7:30 this evening in Northeast D.C. killed one man, according to Metro Police emergency radio traffic and a Washington Post report.

The man, who has not been identified, was found unresponsive and not breathing by emergency personel in the 4200 block of Gault Place NE. He had been shot in the chest.