Fatty Cat and Kitty (Updated with photo and updated again)
Over the next couple weeks we hope to give updates on those involved in the Wone case; not just the three defendants, but their roommate Sarah Morgan and some of the secondary players as well.
We start with Phelps Collins, a participant in one of the more bizarre tangents of the case, the October 30, 2006, robbery of 1509 Swann Street. As reported by the Washington Post, police said Collins told them that a friend, Michael Price, had a key to the house because it belonged to his brother, Joe Price. Police also quoted Collins as saying that Michael Price turned off the alarm once the two men entered the house. About $7,700 worth of electronics were stolen. Later that day, Michael was arrested by the Montgomery County police for driving a vehicle reported stolen by his domestic partner, Louis Hinton. Price was charged with auto theft, theft of property over $500 and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Police also charged Price with being in possession of a glass water pipe (found in his sweat pants) used for consuming illegal drugs that is prohibited under state law.
On November 10, 2006, Collins was arrested and charged with the theft of household goods and electronics. The Washington Blade reported that at the time of his arrest, Phelps was listed by authorities as living with Jerry Clark, an attorney and board member at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and active in the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.
Phelps Collins is not unknown to police with a criminal history that includes four drug convictions between 1998 and 2004 in the District and Montgomery County. We caught up with Mr. Collins recently and we regret to report he’s had yet another brush with the law.
Certainly no direct connection can be made of this scrape to the Wone murder, but Collins’ recent alleged escapades offer a shocking sidebar to this already depraved saga.
On December 16, 2008, the Washington Humane Society received a call from Mr. Collins’ roommate. An officer arrived later that day at their 50th Street, NE apartment to investigate; what he found wasn’t pretty. Their descriptions are graphic and unsettling, but all anyone needs to know is in this portion of the affidavit in support of an arrest warrant:
On or about January 15, 2009, within the District of Columbia, Phelps Collins tortured, tormented, cruelly beat, cruelly chained, mutilated and caused and procured to be so tortured, tormented, cruelly beaten, cruelly chained, mutilated an animal, that is, two adult male cats. (Cruelty to Animals, in violation of 22 D.C. Code Section 1001 (2001 Ed.))
The roommate reported that among other things he often heard the cats “screaming.” But louder than those screams, he told investigators, “…he would hear Mr. Collins laughing and singing.” As far as we can tell, this case is still pending with no trial date set.
Meet Michael Price’s partner in crime.
UPDATE: According to the Washington Humane Society, it is more than likely that both Fatty Cat and Kitty were “re-homed,” meaning they were adopted out following their treatment at Friendship Animal Hospital. This is usualy the practice and procedure after animals are surrendered.
-Craig
Phelps Collins III -Warrant for Arrest – Animal Cruelty
that sickens me.
Is Phelps Collins part of the s/m scene? If so, is he part of Price/Ward’s circle? He obviously has a sadistic bent. (disclaimer: I’m not equating animal torture with s/m.)
This is just unbelievable, but sadly believable. I hope these people get what they deserve. I figures that the idiot Gay and Leninist Task Force would some how be involved. That group has been very bad news since the days of U-r-v-a-s-h-i.
CC- For the record, no ‘involvement’ by the NGLTF was either expressed or implied.
-Craig, editor
Above it says:
On November 10, 2006, Collins was arrested and charged with the theft of household goods and electronics. The Washington Blade reported that at the time of his arrest, Phelps was listed by authorities as living with Jerry Clark, an attorney and board member at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and active in the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.
What in the world is a creep like this doing living with a “board member” of supposedly prominent Gay organization that takes a lot of
money from the Gay community. It shows a whole lot of bad judgment. I understand of course that there was not involvement in later events. Creep is, as creep does in my book.
sugar daddy maybe?
No, but you constantly equate S&M with murderous intent. It is a glaring prejudice is your and many people’s analysis.
Brian, I have posted hundreds of comments on this board. I’m CERTAIN you have not read every one of them. I have posted lengthy comments on my respect for the S&M community, as well as my understanding of the community. Do NOT take this one comment out of context.
And your use of the word “constantly” indicates to me you have been on this board for some time now, for I haven’t mentioned the S&M community in ages. AND as you seem to be focusing on me, I have reason to believe you are……….Lance.
Hi Brian,
I think a good majority of people here don’t at all about S&M between consenting adults. I don’t. Perhaps a few think being active in the S&M community might have some tie to being more violent people, but not the folks who regularly post. I think what you’re misconstruing is this: Dylan’s S&M paraphenalia and the couple’s sexual activities (AND DRUG USE, which you don’t mention) MAY have played a factor that night in what happened. People are exploring that just as they discuss Dylan’s cutlery set as the possible murder weapon. My guess is that the likely drug use is more germane to what may have gone “wrong” than whether or not the couple liked drinking urine. Even if they tried to convince Robert to join them in sexual escapades, he wouldn’t be dead if one or more of the defendants hadn’t been high. Perhaps the combination had an effect, but not what Joe and Dylan liked to do in bed in and of itself. In my mind: who cares? When it’s no longer “consensual” then I do care, and that may or may not have been a factor in what led up to Robert’s murder.
Oh my. And here I thought this case only involved white trash. Learn something new every day! And how ignorant. What fool who wants a pet to pay him attention and follow instruction gets a cat, of all things? He should get a goldfish, or a dog. And the complainant probably just thought that he heard him laughin’.
I think I’m going to be sick.
I’m with you, jackson. I’m sick to my stomach.
Just the thought of torturing animals liked that is so abhorrent to me, it’s unimaginable. What kind of sick mind could do that?
Another question….was Jerry Clark involved with Collins? Or was Collins simply a roommate? Odd pair, they are for either situation.
What became of the charges against Collins regarding Swann Street? I believe I read at some point that the charges against Michael Price were dropped – (a) was he ever charged in connection with Swann Street, or did his charges relate solely to his alleged theft of his partner’s car/possession of a glass pipe? (b) any info re why charges were dropped against him, if in fact they were?
To clarify, my question asks whether Michael Price ever was charged in connection with the Swann Street burglary; I know that he has not been charged with any crimes related directly to Robert’s murder.
Charges against Collins were dropped…looks like a motion to dismiss based on speedy trial was filed:
08/15/2007 Motion to Dismiss Filed: want of prosecution and on speedy trial grounds
08/15/2007 Order of Dismissal Entered on the Docket. Copies Mailed to All Parties.
08/15/2007 Charge Disposed – Dismissed
08/15/2007 Case Disposed – Dismissed
oh…and same deal….M Price was ordered to stay away from Price and Ward, but not Zaborsky. He wasn’t ordered to stay away from Swann Street either. (Or pawn shops for that matter.)
The charges against Michael Price were dropped a bit more mysteriously….he was removed from drug rehab (New Directions) in February and placed on general supervision…..six months later the charges were dropped.
02/20/2007 Event Resulted – Release Status: Hearing held; deft removed from new directions and placed on general supervision w/conditions; no new date set at this time; case is still in preindictment posture.
08/15/2007 Order of Dismissal Entered on the Docket. Copies Mailed to All Parties.
08/15/2007 Case Disposed – Dismissed
08/15/2007 Charge Disposed – Dismissed
Now if real life were like the teevee, the cops would have come down very hard on those two to give up every scrap of info they have on J Price, Ward, etc.
Somehow I don’t think that happened.
Per the Washington Blade, 8/31/07:
Judge John Ramsey Johnson dismissed second-degree burglary charges against Phelps Collins, 36, and Michael Price, 35, after the United States Attorney’s office decided not to seek an indictment against the two men within a required nine-month period following their arrest.
Under the city’s criminal code, felony charges must be dismissed if the government fails to obtain an indictment within that time frame. At the government’s request, Johnson issued the dismissals “without prejudice,” which allows the U.S. Attorney’s office to reinstate the charges at a later date.
– Michael
CD – Thanks for the docs. They can be found here. Maybe a smart colleague can teach be SCRIBd someday.
http://whomurderedrobertwone.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/price-robbery.pdf
http://whomurderedrobertwone.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/collins-robbery.pdf
Is there any chance – given the timeline – that Mr. Wone could have been subdued by an injected drug, taken out of the house and abused, cleaned up and then returned to the house? Is there any chance that the bulk of the abuse happened off-site?
I’m afraid to ask, but, did the cats live, and if so, were they adopted out? I would so like to hear that someone is taking care of them.
I can’t imagine being that upstairs neighbor, living so close to someone who has done that. Do they pass each other on the stairway? That’s beyond awkward – its awful. Its well known that sort of behavior escalates – torturing animals is a prelude to torturing people.
I presume the police investigated Collins re: the murder, and he has an alibi for his whereabouts that night. I also presume they’ve pressured him for information about Ward and the rest. Right?
NM, the cats were removed from Collins apt and treated by a vet. 🙂
Yup. The cats were taken to Friendship Animal Hospital (FHA in the document) for treatment.
Our DC vet of choice is now City Paws, located on 14th Street… at Swann.
-Craig, editor
I find this curious……when Collins was arrested for the Swann street burglary, he was order to stay away from Price and Ward. Why not Zaborsky?
11/14/2006 Release Conditions Party Name: COLLINS III, PHELPS Party Type: Defendant (Criminal) 1) Stay Away From………..ALL PAWN SHOPS 2) Stay Away From……….DYLAN WARD AND JOSEPH PRICE 3) Stay Away From………..1509 SWANN ST NW, 1508 14TH ST NW
Nice work Scoop. Thank you. We had an inkling on the disposition of the charges, but weren’t certain on the details. Do you have a doc that you can share so we can post?
-Craig, editor
I can send a pdf…..where to?
email:
whomurdered@live.com
any and all correspondence directly to the editors.
– the editors
love the kitty
What are the chances that Collins *wasn’t* in a sexual relationship with Ward and Price? They seem to have similar proclivities.
Everything I’ve read so far says that Wone contacted Price about staying over. But there are one or more emails and/or phone messages between them, right?
How do we know it wasn’t Price who invited Mr. Wone over for a social visit; and when Wone registered for the ABA lecture, he figured he’d kill three birds with one stone – attend the lecture, meet the night shift at RFA, and take his friend up on his invite all in one day?
By which I mean, if Price originally contacted Wone, and not the other way around, it might be that he, Ward and Collins were premeditating a crime and casting around to find a victim. Wone responded to Price’s innocent-sounding invitation and walked right into their trap.
Would account for lack of panic, speed of crime, and thoroughness of clean up job – lots of planning ahead.
Collins (alerted by one of his buddies at 1509, he could have let himself in with a key to participate) could have carried the bloody evidence including knife out with him for later disposal. Since no one but the residents of 1509 knew he was there, no one would think to search his car/apartment/whatever for blood evidence, etc.
One of the mysteries of the case to me is what someone I know who lives on Swann within view of 1509 told me. This person says that the morning that the robbery was attended to by the police, Zaborsky was standing out front of 1509 with another man (unidentifiable), looking pleased as punch while he was waiting for the police. The fact that he looked so expectant and happy perhaps says that they perhaps thought they had an alibi in another intruder. But then that seems to suggest that they didn’t know it was the brother at the time. Whatever the case, they seemed pleased that their house had been broken into which is very strange by normal standards. But then these are very strange people.
I always thought they planned the robbery, but never thought the brother would be caught.
If they are criminal enough to murder and clean up a crime scene, then they are certainly criminal enough to stage a robbery for defense purposes.
Maybe the look on Zaborsky’s face was due to the fact he wasn’t rattled about the “break in” in the slightest bit.
Great insight.
>>>NM Says: I can’t imagine being that upstairs neighbor, living so close to someone who has done that. Do they pass each other on the stairway? <<<
They were roommates.
Ah. The story above references “the upstairs neighbor”; I see the affidavit says roommate.
Collins sounds completely cracked. The statement that he “acts on his thoughts”? Creepy.
But the neighbor upstairs filed the complaint about the noise… So indeed an uncomfortable passing between people could occur.
N.M. – Good catch. I wasn’t clear and will fix. Thanks.
-Craig, editor
sounds like the price sisters have a habit of associating with trash. no, not you, victor, darling — i was only referring to collins and ward. sorry, needham – but i will call them like i see them – only my opinion; but i am still waiting for the “dylan is a great guy” thread — still waiting. anyone?
Honestly, SDI, I think it’s safe to assume that close friends of Ward’s don’t read the site (I don’t know if I could, if I were friends with any of them). And, judging by the comments on the “Price is a great guy” post, I’m not sure what a “Dylan is a great guy” thread would possibly do; surely any first-hand character reference would be discounted as “clearly you didn’t know how depraved he really was”.
i would not be surprised if perhaps one, maybe all, of the defendants monitor this blog; and occassionally chime in or have their friends comment.
how ironic if at the end of the day, michael price turns out to be the most accomplished of the price sisters?
anyone with insight into their upbringing? at what point did the wheels leave michael’s cart? divorced parents? info on this appeciated.
Its not clear whether they staged the break in but my first reaction when I heard about it was that it must have been a relief to the 3 men. The fact that Zaborsky was visibly excited about it means that he most likely did not know about it beforehand but considered it a stroke of good luck.
If the restraining order is ag. Ward and Price only that could mean that Collins had a sexual history with those 2. That opens up a new can of worms.
>>>>L says: If the restraining order is ag. Ward and Price only that could mean that Collins had a sexual history with those 2. That opens up a new can of worms.<<<
Agreed 100%
The order also prohibits contact with the 14th Street property. Perhaps the 3 would tryst over there as well? Was that unit rented to a 4th party, if so, who and was that person also involved intimately with the trio?
Maybe the editors can sleuth this out.
1508 14th is a pawn shop, I believe, at least the first floor.
Ahhhh. I was thinking it’s Price’s other condo.
Joe Price must have really coveted his new partnership with Arent Fox given the sketchy background of at least some family members.
“SDI” nailed it – you have to be careful who you associate with.
>>>L says: Joe Price must have really coveted his new partnership <<<
As well he should have. He was stupid to play so dangerously with his life. Even if Robert Wone had not been murdered, JPrice was on a fast track to ruin. His friend, Sarah Morgan, expressed her concern for his reckless behavior. He kept pornographic photos of himself on his work computer. Now that’s just downright ignorant.
He might still have a job at Arent Fox if he didn’t have those pictures on his computer. AF wouldn’t have been so stupid to dismiss him before his trial. But having smut on his computer gave them grounds to distance themselves from bad publicity.
not sure the managing party will be looking forward to shaking hands and doing business in the boardroom with someone who would rather be the recipient of a enema while tied up and being peed on? perhaps she’ll return to biglaw; doubtful arent fox will the place. i wonder if she is still pulling in the 400k salary these law partners enjoy – or if she is on unpaid leave. her production numbers for the last year are about 0 I would guess. and at biglaw; it’s all about production; it’s only about production.
You have some good points here. But the totality does not make sense, which is no big deal because nothing makes sense in this case.
Workplaces are so touchy about people going postal, and yet here is a guy who goes back to work at his law firm after a man had been stabbed at his house with no sign of intruder.
It is hard to imagine what the atmosphere
was there …”Uh, welcome back, how was your vacation?…” It is hard to imagine people not knowing something more about his life, be that about his interest in porn or whatever. People are curious, and most people let them know something because if you don’t people will just start making crap up to fill in the blanks. He lived with an extra guy, that big love situation is already odd by gay boy standards. I just do not believe that no one at Arent Fox knew more. Here is my guess. There is a network of law firm types who are into edgy sex. They know each other, and some of them are at Arent Fox. Some of them probably know what happened too. But that is just a guess. But it is a guess based on patterns of socializing, so to speak, in this town and others. Time to speak up fellas before you get caught too!
I don’t think there is such a network of lawyers into kinky sex. Why would there be a connection b/t profession and sexual activities?
I don’t think there is such a network of lawyers into kinky sex. Why would there be a connection b/t profession and sexual activities? My guess is that if an attorney is engaging in that sort of thing they would keep it to themselves and not involve others at the workplace.
I agree, L….not typical watercooler chat. “Hi John…how was your weekend? Great, Ed…the wife and I had a great threesome with a really hot dom….awesome boot licking action…..yours?” They may find each other, just not at work.
Well, yeah. I wasn’t suggesting they were cruising and doing it at work next to the printer. “They may find each other” sums up my view. Whatever that “each other” amounts to in terms of a community, I bet they know something about this case. To me that is more likely than the leather crowd per se. I am am not trying to be funny when I say that people might be snobbish about by whom even they might get peed on. Joe Price could say, at least my pisser has a Master’s Degree.
>>>Legal Beagal says: Joe Price could say, at least my pisser has a Master’s Degree.<<<
LB, you may not be trying to be funny, but THAT was the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.
I get your drift though. Good point.
I don’t think people use common sense as much as you’d think.
At a private sex club, I met and was given a business card from an Arent Fox attorney.
Was that recently? and was that person Joe Price?
Sorry for the duplicate post
i have trouble picturing the senior partners at arent fox, or any am law 100, walking around with butt plugs and boners. i may be a prude, but i do not think there is a kinky underground such that it would protect/reward dirty birdies outed during a murder investigation. not to say there are not dirty birdies out there working at law firms, i just do not think they are connected in any way; all done on the DL.
i recommend exploring michael price in detail . . . needham would probably welcome the temporary distraction.
Legal B (or anyone for that matter): Any idea why the Secret Service were involved in cracking Price’s computer at Arent Fox? Did they need a legal 3rd party for some reason to witness the material review? Does the U.S. Secret Service have knowledge of computer forensics not afforded the DC police?
CD,
I echo your comments regarding Sarah Morgan’s comment regarding Joe Price and his reckless behavior. She has also been know to be quite chatty about how Joe and Michael were raised, as well as Dylan’s predilection for Asian men. I look forward to this site’s editors’ profile of her, and to her testimony during the trial.
ditto, O…..Sarah Morgan’s profile should be interesting.
And what reputation is it, exactly, that anyone in Washington possesses, besides being incapable of managing money, incapable of abiding by the constitution, and incapable of enforcing the law?
Interesting and disturbing post.
Observer, have any info you’d like to share about Sarah? I don’t get her role in all of this.
Anyone know Jerry Clark? I’d be interested to hear about the relationship with Phelps Collins. Sugar daddy to his drug connection? Clark have any connection to the S/M scene?
I looked at the Blade article, which includes a picture of Jerry Clark. He looks significantly older than Collins, who is in his mid-30’s. Apparently some of the property from 1509 was recovered at Clark’s home. I don’t have the stomach to read about torturing cats, but was Clark the “roomate” who gave evidence to the police?
Phelps Collins is in his late 30’s. Jerry Clark looks like he’s 80 years old in this pic at the link.
“Jerry N. Clark is president of Clark Associates, a Washington-based health benefits consulting firm. He has served as a trustee for the Law and Society Association, co-chair of the Whitman-Walker spring gala and the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council. Jerry returned to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force board of directors after serving from 1995-2002, including four years as co-chair. He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago and his undergraduate degree from Princeton.”
He sounds like a very intelligent and successful man. Why would he be living with a nut job, drug addict like Phelps Collins? Collins sounds seriously mentally ill from that arrest warrant.
Great question, Nelly. Anyone know Clark or have direct experience with Collins?
Oh god. Perish the thought.
“He sounds like a very intelligent and successful man. Why would he be living with a nut job, drug addict like Phelps Collins?”
Why do people assume that exterior appearances are somehow indicative of sanity? “Sounds like” is the operative phrase here. Advanced degrees, salary, granite counter tops, blah, blah. There’s no corollary here. For every Clark, or Price, Ward and Zaborsky for that matter, there are probably 100 average Joes living in a trailer park who are far more decent persons in many aspects of their lives.
SSO – point well taken.
Nelly – I think the simplest answer is that they were living together because each was providing something that the other needed.
So the question becomes: what did (does?) Collins provide that Clark would want or need?
How did they meet, what friends do they have in common, what might their shared interests be?
What’s Clark’s legal connections with DC, or the fed atty? Enough to get the case slowed down?
Maybe Mr. Clark dabbles in the dark side. Maybe Collins satisfied this aspect of his life.
>>>>>What’s Clark’s legal connections with DC, or the fed atty? Enough to get the case slowed down?<<<<
He doesn’t sound like he has any power. Just a business man that does gay rights work. That doesn’t necessarily pull special favors. Anyone know anything different about this fella?
re: “Maybe Mr. Clark dabbles in the dark side. Maybe Collins satisfied this aspect of his life.”
That’s what I was thinking.
Okay, I’m going to say what else I’m thinking, at the expense of sounding like a total nut.
I think one of the reasons there’s been so much silence around this case from people in that social circle is because some of them were the recipients of products of this murder – photos or video.
Given the amount of porn consumption – I find it difficult to imagine the murderers didn’t make some memory-savers. I imagine someone with Clark’s money and (it would seem) proclivities would pay a bundle for those, especially if they feature a young Asian man.
A couple of things. I think one should be careful not to link “porn consumption” per se with anything more violent. That is playing into the hands of bizarre evangelicals, and there is no evidence for it. But in this case, I think you are on to something, and I am glad someone finally articulated it. I think there may be a network of creeps involved in this. I think that is part of the reason why these fellows have been defended by some. If true this means a couple of things. First, anyone in any way involved with it could be an accessory to murder. In which case they
would do well to come forward now before the defendants get the idea that
they can cut a deal by revealing their little network. But I caution everyone not to get all paranoid about this. If it is true, the truth will out.
I think I get NM’s meaning re “porn consumption”. It’s a big business. Lots and lots of money to be had.
And it’s a very interesting theory.
>>>memory-savers<<<
It’s no secret that JPrice enjoyed having himself photographed. On his Alt.com profile, he indicated “participating in erotic photography” as one of his interests. Not to mention the photographs of himself on his work computer. And these weren’t photos of him and grandma. The internet is loaded with “amature” gay porn. I’d be willing to bet JPrice is memorialized somewhere.
As far as souvenier’s of Wone’s murder….I shudder to think. I get the impression you’re referring to snuff films. But anything is possible. This case has been bizarre from the beginning.
Thanks, CD. I meant it both ways – JP’s personal consumption (if you’ve got computer access at home, why would you need to download porn at work, unless you need access to it all the time?) and the market of people like JP and Ward.
I’m not referring to “snuff films” as such – not the Hollywood version. I mean the sort of thing pedophiles do, record themselves in the act to exchange with other pedos. And there have been a number of cases of rapists of adult women filming themselves with camera phones, etc., as well. (And realistically – there are plenty of men who get off on photos or videos without any inkling of- or interest in – whether the person pictured was consenting or not, just as there are plenty of men who buy the ‘services’ of girls and women who have been trafficked and enslaved – hundreds and hundreds of thousands of them, in this country, every year.)
I never really thought about this in the context of gay consumers, but I guess it stands to reason that they’re out there too.
And what would a bd/sm scene be without photos of your exploits to pass around? There are a lot of dirty hands out there.
The trial date for this spectacular human being has been re-scheduled……..
07/13/2009 09:30 AM Non-Jury Trial
Ugh. Thanks, CD, for staying on top of this. I wonder how it will turn out.
Collins is on facebook — 1 friend and the face of a lunatic.
BB – Send the link please.
oh, and he says he dates women
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?sid=45c818b9c8ce9864d0b89a5b3fc9d094&id=1508255750&hiq=phelps%2Ccollins&ref=search
Yikes.
CDinDC, who is Lance< beside the individual who posts?
Collins was convicted of cruelty to animals in a bench trial on July 13 and will be sentenced on July 29 at 2pm, according to the case docket.
He’d be wise to make a deal and let the other cat out of the bag.
[…] wrapped by bringing up a long forgotten name, Phelps Collins, Michael Price’s partner in the October 2006 burglary of 1509. We learned that […]