Six years ago today Robert Wone finished up a busy day as General Counsel at Radio Free Asia, a new position he had just started a few weeks earlier.  He then headed to a continuing legal education class before making his way back to work to meet the night shift.  Robert would complete the day by heading over to a friend’s house to stay for the evening.

What happened next remains as much of a mystery today as it did six years ago.

During the intervening years since Robert Wone was cruelly murdered, so much has changed.  The collapse of the financial markets, which led to the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression.  The election of the first African-American president of the United States as well as three wave elections in 2006, 2008 and 2010.  Apple launched its most successful product ever with the iPad.  There have been all of these changes, and so many more, over the past six years.

And, yet, for all this change, so much remains the same.

The eponymous name of this blog that has animated so much discussion still goes unanswered.  It is six years and counting.  Another thing that will not change is that Robert Wone will never be forgotten, and justice in this case will never be abandoned.

– The editors of Who Murdered Robert Wone

A Defense Version Of What Happened

With news on the Robert Wone case trickling to a standstill after the civil judgement, we thought this would be a good time to report something we heard.

It seems that a certain investigator for the defense has not been discrete about what she thinks went down the night of August 2, 2006 at 1509 Swann Street.

For folks who attended the trial this  investigator stood out.  She looked like someone more at home attending an L.A.-based celebrity trial, such as the O.J. Simpson case, instead of one in frumpy, fashion-challenged Washington, DC.

Whether it was the Christian Louboutin heels, the striking slit skirts and bleached blonde mane, one couldn’t help but notice her.

Yet, her identity and purpose remained a mystery.

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“Rest awhile and enjoy the wonderful world around you.”

Three years ago today, a simple post on a simple website went up. Those 150 words were the start of a long journey. We had no idea where it would lead, but we always had a guiding light to follow – the man who this website was set up to honor. 

We don’t know how to measure success. Simple web metrics only tell a part of the story: this is the 575th post and 45,000 comments were generated from over 2 million page views. But the raw data isn’t the success, the people and passion behind those numbers were. Thousands were touched by Robert’s life and senseless murder. We often said that Robert brought many people together in his too short life, and he continued to do so long after his passing.

As the lights may flicker on this small outpost, the brighter flame of Robert’s life continues to shine. The four of us and the many who keep Robert’s memory alive still have that guiding light, its brightness augmented by the unrivaled strength and and undying love that Robert’s family and friends have shown; lighting a path during some very dark days.

At William and Mary’s homecoming, Robert’s family and friends gathered to honor him by dedicating a small campus grove in his memory. Anyone who was touched by Robert’s life should make the effort to stop by Barksdale Field to honor him. Before embarking on that journey, we can all dig deep again and contribute to the Robert Wone Charitable Trust.  There’s no better Tribe to be a part of.

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From a Reliable Source

Much was made, but little seen, about early investigation reports about the contents of Joe Price’s computer at his old firm, Arent-Fox. In the immediate aftermath of Robert’s murder, DC Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a number of physical and data searches looking for evidence.

Warrants were issued to search 1509 Swann, Price’ BMW and a number of computers. Word surfaced that Price’s work PC contained a number of risque photos, but little else surfaced for the public in either the legal filings or as evidence at last summer’s obstruction trial.

Some had wondered about the existence of a contract between Price and Ward. It’s common in some S&M relationships that the specifics, bounds and limitations of what is to transpire, in the bedroom, playroom and beyond, is stipulated in writing. 

Recently we’d heard from a very reliable source, that such a contract was found on Price’s office computer.  And from that document, a number of interrogatory and deposition questions were drawn up and posed to the then defendants.

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E-Z Pay

There’s no telling what the amount of contributions have been to the Robert Wone Memorial Trust since we started solicitating for them over two years ago.  We hope plenty of readers have reached deep to cut hefty checks. While fundraiser-in-chief, Jerry Lewis, has been sidelined from his annual MDA telethon, our Labor of Love will continue. 

And the good news is that it just became a whole lot easier to contribute to charities and organizations that Robert held dear.

The website of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is now accepting contributions online.  CLICK HERE to donate, and go to the pull-down menu and look for the Robert Wone Charitable Trust.

Good deeds by good people will continue, but only with your help. Thanks.

Secrets Are Rarely Secret for Long

We knew this day would come.  Whatever the form, we four editors, the close contributors, the many commentors and the legions of the just-plain curious – we all knew that eventually there would be something that felt like an end.

Except, once again, this case has defied our expectations.  Once again, we have less of an end and more of a slow fade.

Not like this is new ground.  Years ago, in the lead up to the criminal trial, many hoped that the authorities, the larger DC gay community or even this raggedy band of trouble-makers could help crack open the silence of 1509 to get someone, perhaps even one of the defendants, to spill just enough.

We hung wanted posters (which the DCMPD never did), we consulted outside forensics analysts, and introduced ourselves to many who probably wished we would just go away.  We tried tricks old and new, orthodox and otherwise, to get Robert’s unsolved murder in front of as many eyes as possible.  And at least some of them didn’t turn away.

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