Unnatural Death Revisit?
This article is the result of an request to review/open a cold case, that has not been solved in ten years. Letters, conversations are between the Metropolitan Police Department and the victims father. This is one of approximate four thousands unsolved murder cases that need worthy, and in-depth attention to solve. Readers can decide for themselves, if this is the attention due this or other unsolved cases. Detective(s) (MPD) who handle/review this case are welcome to comment.
Chief Cathy Lanier, November 7, 2009
Metropolitan Police Department
Government of the District of Columbia
300 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Chief Lanier,
In May 2000, I wrote then Chief Ramsey a letter, after hearing him on a radio show advising people to write him, if they had information on criminal cases. My letter contained (9) names of individuals believed relevant or responsible for a murder, weeks later detectives assigned to that case encourage me not to involve the chief of police, saying: It does no good, its just passed down to us and they said: I had made their work harder by putting names of some people who may not be involved in the murder, and would take time away from their investigation, months later they acknowledged most names from my letter were likely those who murdered our son, but they needed eye witness. I also sent a letter to Commander Greene of the 5th district, in December 2001, I received a letter from Commander Greene/Captain Thomas E. McGuire that stated: Approximately six suspects who were involved to some extent in the death of your son, Damion, and remain the central focus of the investigation. We have not heard encouraging details since then. I would not have thought I would be sending a letter nearly ten years later to another Chief.
I hope true change has happen, for the better, and postive movement will now control. The names of the individuals in my 2000 letter are still the same for th most part, minus those that are decease. I have not spoken to detectives who were assigned to the case in years, ( We have grown tired of hearing, I can’t go into that or we are doing the best we can) I get more detailed information on the SwannStreet town house murder, the Rock Creek Park murder, etc., than the murderers of our son, which contain lines of blackout information that may have help the murders or lines where maybe, we could have made helpful connection. We heard there was a grand jury hearing, we were not contacted, later told it did not move forward, sure it’s stated grand juries are secret, we know information gets out in many cases, and often perjury comes from the mouth of murders and their associates.
I know you have a tough job, I believe, you are doing a good job, we know of some cases being closed after ten years or longer, even though they should have been done sooner in most cases. We know some murderers outwit the law, and the law make missteps in cases. I know the murderers of my son are still seen around the area, they can act bold, not fearing the police have any clue to arrest them, even as some have/are involve and arrested for other offenses.
My request is for you to engage all details surrounding the murder of Damion Mikel king, until an arrest and conviction have been made, and additional effort made on all cold cases. Real and true attention can make a big difference in unsolved cases, consoling words and grand standing fades as the hurt of losing a love one rekindle and burns to the soul, I hope you will understand deeper then these words express and do more to bring those who remove life from living souls, and stroll streets unconcern to guilt. Help heal the loss, pain and distrust of those who seek some relief.
Damion’s case had and has a family who from the start help get names and information, continues to work for unsolved cases and has and does leg work, even when advise not to in an effort to bring some termination to Damion’s and other cases of haunting pain. We will not quit, we hope, but have not truly seen if the MPD will do like wise. As long as murderers roam and avoid their crimes, our labor of pain will not cease.
We need your help today, more then before to make right the work of us who have little control over the resources of doing it alone. Will you help?
Cherish Life,
Lawrence J. King, Sr.
PS. This letter may be post to public sites in the future
November 30, 2009 AM
Sargent Young call to say the Metropolitan Police Department were in receipt of the above letter, he stated another ( Jeffery Owens) detective, other then (Detective Daryle Richmond) who was the lead detective in May 2000, would be contacting me and reviewing the case in regard to my letter.
Detective Jeffery owenscalled later, to say that he would be going over the information submitted by Detective Richmond, who he said had done a detail job from what he knew of the case, but he had a lot of information to review and it would take some time. I disagreed with the comment a detail job, and aked that more should/could be done, and I wanted to see if some names I had may now give something to help close the case.
December 2, 2009 2 PM
Dectective Owens called, left voice message – Hello Mr. King, Calling in reference to your sons case, please give me a call when you can at #
December 2, 2009
Called Detective Owens gave him several names of persons who may help the case, told him I would not rush him but would call back in about a month to see how things were going. Detective Owens said he was still in the process of looking into the case, that Detective Richmond had a lot of material to look over.
December 18, 2010
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Decenber 16, 2009
Dear Mr. King:
This letter is in response to your correspondence dated November 7, 2009, in which you requested information in reference to progress of the investigation involving your son’s death. This matter was forwarded to Acting Captain Michael Farish, of the Homicide and Sexual Offenses Branch for follow-up.
Acting Captain Farishhas informed me that Detective Jeffery Owens has been assigned to conduct a full review of your son’s case. Detective Jeffery Owens shall then contact you with an update after the review has been completed. The information you have provided is essential in this investigation and your cooperation is appreciated. The Metroploitan Police Department strives to bring closure to all families that have been victimized by the unnatural death of a loved one.
If you should have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Acting Captain Micheal Farish, on (202) 645-5556.
Sincerly,
Cathy L. Lanier
Chief of Police
January 4, 2010 7:45 am
Left letter with information to consider at the Metropolitan Police Department Fifth
District.
January 7, 2010
Call Detective Owens, left voice message, asking if he had receive my letter.
January 13, 2010 12:56 pm
Call Detective Owens – Detective Owens, said he had received my letter, he said: As I told you, I feel most of what has been done on this case has been done. I said I will call you back in about a month to see if you had other information.
April 20. 2010 9:45 AM
Called Detective Jeffery Owens, asked if he had finish the review. Dectective Owens said he had finish, but I’m in an interview right now, can I call you back? I replied, Sure.
April 22, 2010 10:25 AM
Called Detective Owens, Mr. King, Sorry I did not call you back, I’ve been real busy. I’m going into a meeting right now. I promise I’ll call you back this afternoon. I replied, OK.
Damion Mikel King, was murdered in the 2800 block of Myrtle Avenue, North East, shortly after midnight on May 16, 2000. His murderers are believe to have been known to him. No person has come forward with enough information, to close the case, according to the Metropolitan P0lice Department. It’s not too late, to help solve this or any other cold cases.
At this posting, I have not heard back from Detective Owens. We sent the following email to the Metropolitan Police Department and some news organizations as we posted Unnatural Death Revisit?
Sir/Madam,
With decease in area homicides, better efforts should be given to solving more cold cases. Monthly reviews of cases from each ward and renewed contract with victim’s family/public should occur, with trust, openness, respect and intense work.
Please read Unatural Death Revisit?
Cherish Life,
Lawrence J. King, Sr.
May 7, 2010 9:14 am -Call Captain Michael Farish, Interduce myself and read part of the letter from Chief Cathy Lanier, stating: Acting Captain Farish has informed me that Detective Jeffery Owens has been assigned to conduct a full review of your son’s case. Detective Owens shall then contact you with an update after review has been completed. In short - Captain Farish said he was unaware of the case, he thought I was the technician for his computer which was down, he stated it’s bad when the Captain in charge of cases computer is down, I agreed. He said he would see that Detective Jeffery Owens contact me soon, after I gave him more details and ask him to go to Snitch On Murder site for other details of the case.
May 8, 2010 Detective Owens called and left message on work voice mail, for me to contact him or he would call back.
May 10, 2010 12:25 pm Call Detective Jeffery Owens, who apologize for not calling me back, stated he had finish his review, and had interview Detective Richmond, follow up on other leads which he could not go into, said the case was a cold case but that they interview people who are brought in daily and question them about cold cases so the case is still active. I ask had he contacted any names on my list and if during his review he came across anything that would make them not a suspect, he said if he understood my question, no, many times we know who the murders are , but we don’t have enough to bring them to trial because we only have one chance to try to get a conviction and if they are get a acquittal then we don’t get another chance to try them. I told him I think he should have talk to some people on the list because their mind may have change from when they talked to them years ago. He said I know this is not the news you want to hear. I agreed.
