A Superior Court jury on Monday convicted a 51-year-old man of kidnapping, strangulation and two counts of simple assault after prosecutors said he held his partner captive in a Northeast Washington apartment. Jurors were told the woman endured hours of degrading abuse before she managed to free one leg and, with her hands still bound, hop to a neighbor’s door to get help. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
According to court documents reported in coverage of how the victim hops to safety, the assault occurred on March 5, 2024, in the 1300 block of H Street NE after an argument escalated. Prosecutors told jurors that the man tied his partner's hands behind her back, bound them to her ankles, wrapped a scarf tightly around her face and struck her in the face, then urinated on her head while she lay on the bedroom floor. The jury returned guilty verdicts on Monday for kidnapping, strangulation and two counts of simple assault.
Escape And Evidence That Persuaded Jurors
Court filings describe how the woman waited until the assailant fell asleep, then worked one leg free and crawled or hopped to a neighboring apartment to summon help while still bound. Police and prosecutors walked jurors through that sequence of events at trial, and the panel deliberated over the evidence before reaching its verdicts. Defense statements and any requests for a new trial or other post-trial motions have not been made public.
Sentencing And Next Steps
The convicted man is scheduled to be sentenced in May, according to reporting based on the court documents. Superior Court sentencing will follow pre-sentence procedures and may include victim impact statements and a presentence report for the judge to consider. The case is expected to move onto the court’s sentencing calendar in the weeks ahead.
Context: Intimate-Partner Violence In The District
Advocates say the case highlights how intimate-partner violence can escalate into extreme abuse. The District's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board documents trends and offers systemwide recommendations in such cases. The board’s 2024 annual report examines risk factors, interagency responses and steps intended to prevent lethal outcomes for survivors. Read the report from the DC Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board for more background.
Where Survivors Can Turn
Survivors seeking help can access court-based and city resources, including the Superior Court’s Domestic Violence Intake Center at the Moultrie Courthouse, which offers crisis intervention, legal referrals and assistance with emergency civil filings. Community organizations also provide safety planning and shelter referrals for people leaving abusive situations. See the DC Courts Domestic Violence Intake Center for hours and contact information.
