T Minus 350
May 10, 2010. There was an appreciable murmur in the courtroom when Judge Weisberg announced the date. Two months for the trial and deliberation means the verdict could come down close to the 4th anniversary of Robert’s murder.
Ben Razi, Kathy Wone’s attorney summed it up saying that “continued delays are upsetting.” The Wone family has waited nearly three years already.
You are go for launch
On Friday, after all too many delays, the countdown began for real.
Who is this a setback for? Was May 2010 good news for the defendants?
That would all depend on what your definition of “good” is.
For the next 12 months they will walk the streets of DC always aware of being on Glenn Kirschner’s radar. They know that every status hearing, filing and update will be examined under ever increasing scrutiny. They will continue to pay dearly for these delays spending untold thousands of dollars on attorneys.
How can any of that be good?
We were somewhat taken aback when Judge Weisberg reached for his May calender. “May 10th,” he said. The three of us who attended exchanged glances, sighed, then turned our attention back to the proceedings. At adjournment we filed a bulletin, talked with some reporters and then hustled back home to bang out the post, our 130th.
The first post went up in December when the original indictment was still fresh in everyone’s mind and the stench of this crime was becoming more obvious.
That was six months ago; the Wone family’s odyssey began nearly three years ago. Ours, far shorter and far less arduous ends with theirs.
We can do the next 12-14 months standing on our heads. We’re not even done yet with picking apart the affidavit.
It is our sincere hope that AUSA Glenn Kirschner is in for the long haul as well. Bernie Grimm too for that matter; he’s certain to keep us entertained.
By the numbers. The first and hopefully last wmrw.com index:
Days since Robert Wone’s murder: 1,028
Days since defendants were known to be looking for the intruder: 1,028
Days that passed until the first indictment: 818
Days since the indictment was handed down: 210
Days until the trial begins: 350
Days between the murder and trial: 1,377
Days until the September 11 status hearing: 108
Attorneys working for the defense: 4
Prosecutors who’ve handled this case: 3
MPD mishaps: We’re still trying to add them all up.
Journalists we’ve spoken with: +/- 25
Gay bloggers we’ve reached out to: Dozens
Gay bloggers who’ve posted: 6
Gay editorials critical of this project: 1
wmrw.com posts: 133
Comments: 3, 560
Pageviews: Closing in on 200,000
-Craig
First!
I’ve got a feeling the boys will burn up on reentry. So much for the joe price orbit.
Twelve months is a long time to diddle. The boys would do well to read (or reread), “A la recherche du temps perdu”. Et l’argent perdu aussi.
I hope this deadly trio are bled dry. My heart cries for Ms. Wone, literally. I have been assiduously reading this blog and have devoured all press reports. Have these men no shame? I am so saddened, so depressed. Mrs. Wone has been waiting for years to have justice served. These men can wait . . . and wait. Thus far, I am not optimistic justice shall be served. I truly hope I am proven wrong.
I agree with you, Saddened. It’s impossible for me to believe they were not involved…there was no forced entry! And they cleaned up the crime scene! Wone was a very bright and cute guy, and one or more of them wanted him…even it it meant taking him forcibly and using drugs. I can’t imagine how his widow feels.
I attended the status hearing on Friday – I guess my observations differ from the “other side.” The elderly crowd, as you reported , were mothers, fathers and relatives showing support for the 3 defendants…..the so called “cocktail party” atmosphere again were friends showing and giving their support for what must a difficult time for all involved – how is that any different for the supporters in the Wone camp? You didn’t mention the evil looks that the Wone camp was giving us – I know that the Wone family has suffered a tragic loss, and by no means am I trying to minimize the loss – I guess I am going by the old motto of innocent until proven guilty. We all have our theories on what happened that night, but no one will truly know all the details. I know that this blog is intended for Wone supporters but it might be a good idea to paint an overall picture of what is happening.
All I have really read on here is how they deserve everything that is happening to them – put yourself in their shoes, or imagine one of your good friends going through something similar – would you react the same way??
Colin S – From the sound of your comments, I suspect that you are a relative of the defendants. In situations such as this family sticks together and offers support. By attending the hearing, it sound like you are doing this. Likewise, the Wone family has every right to give you evil stares. They believe the people you are supporting are lying and are guilty. And they are not the only ones who feel that way, so does the government. So now the people have been called to resolve this question. Until that time, your calls for mercy ring hollow.
I attended the status hearing on Friday – I guess my observations differ from the “other side.” The elderly crowd, as you reported , were mothers, fathers and relatives showing support for the 3 defendants…..the so called “cocktail party” atmosphere again were friends showing and giving their support for what must a difficult time for all involved – how is that any different for the supporters in the Wone camp? You didn’t mention the evil looks that the Wone camp was giving us – I know that the Wone family has suffered a tragic loss, and by no means am I trying to minimize the loss – I guess I am going by the old motto of innocent until proven guilty. We all have our theories on what happened that night, but no one will truly know all the details. I know that this blog is intended for Wone supporters but it might be a good idea to paint an overall picture of what is happening.
All I have really read on here is how they deserve everything that is happening to them – put yourself in their shoes, or imagine one of your good friends going through something similar – would you react the same way??
Colin S – From the sound of your comments, I suspect that you are a relative of the defendants. In situations such as this family sticks together and offers support. By attending the hearing, it sound like you are doing this. Likewise, the Wone family has every right to give you evil stares. They believe the people you are supporting are lying and are guilty. And they are not the only ones who feel that way, so does the government. So now the people have been called to resolve this question. Until that time, your calls for mercy ring hollow.
Thanks Colin – Thanks for taking the time to share.
Granted, there are a number of Wone supporters who follow this site, but in the absolute interest of fairness we welcome all viewpoints. Flaming diverse opinions on this case will not be tolerated.
I hope you may be able to contribute either here of offline via the contacts if you choose. We’ve also been waiting for someome to step up and act as a conduit to the defendants and their supporters.
We have 12 months and plenty of bandwidth to tell everyone’s side of the story and welcome whatever assistance or guidance you can provide.
We will also be reaching out to the defense teams and will try to establish a relationship with them.
You’re point is well taken about walking a mile in the defendants’ shoes. I’d be horrified if a friend or loved one of mine was under suspicion of being involved in a murder in any way. Horrified.
Lastly and for the record, we referred to the scene as family gathering (not a cocktail party) and as you described the defendants’ supporters that may have been accurate.
Thanks again Colin. Think about it and I hope we can chat offline (in complete confidentiality and discretion) as we move forward. Craig
Thanks Craig – the cocktail party reference was in a previous posting.
You’re right Colin. I was uncomfortable with that reference thinking it somewhat innacurrate and misleading. Thanks.
I am not a relative, just a good friend offering support. I did not ask for mercy, just an understanding on what everyone is going through – both sides are affected by this terrible tragedy.
Colin, would you like to offer some insight as to what you believe may have happened that night?
It seems very few people from the “innocent until proven guilty” camp ever offer theories or examples of evidence that point in the direction of innocence.
I’m all ears, and I believe the other regular posters on this board, would love to hear ANYTHING that could support innocence.
Please share. I’d love to hear your opinions regarding the case.
Colin,
You have an odd way of calling for understanding, which is certainly a form of mercy, for everyone involved yet you used inflamatory language of “evil stares coming from the Wone family.” Sounds like stirring the pot, instead of dimming the flame.
As CDinDC says, offer ways that gets us to an innocent verdict. We are all ears, until then, be aware that one side firmly believes the people you are supporting murdered their husband, son, brother and dear friend. May you have the timber to withstand the withering stares, which is nothing compared to what they have gone through.
I am not a relative, just a good friend offering support. I did not ask for mercy, just an understanding on what everyone is going through – both sides are affected by this terrible tragedy.
Your guess is as good as mine – we can make all kind of assumptions at to what happened that night. I know 2 of the defendants very well and still find it hard to believe that they could have been involved in anything of this magnitude. I know that I was very shocked when I heard the news and have, and remain, their friend and will always be behind them 100%. Was there any physical activity? Not sure – was Robert a willing participant and then freaked out?? Not sure. Why did he go there instead of going home? It’s not like it was that far that he could not go home – wasn’t this the first time he had ever slept over? Did he have some other motive for going over there that night? These are all questions that will probably never be answered.
I am not one to just sit around and make up scenarios of what may have happened – I think the affidavit was very specific and gives a glimpse of that night.
My views are based on what I know about the individuals, not the malicious gossip or their private lives.
Colin,
Again, the question you raise — was Robert a willing participant — could easily be answered by the defendants. So why aren’t they telling us? The only reason we aren’t finding out these asnwers is because the defendant have chosen not to speak. And yet you ask for understanding?
While Craig may be horrified if a friend of his was under suspicion, I bet he would also look at the facts and evidence and realize that his support was no longer healthy for himself, or for the victim’s family, even the defandants, and would urge that the truth come forward, which would be the most freeing thing for everyone involved.
Colin, any idea how three knife wounds ended in Robert’s chest? Not to be antagonistic, because I do think you seem very genuine in wanting to support your friends, but there has to be some questions in your mind which run contrary to wanting to support them 100% as you said. I do “get” support – like I said before, I can see visiting a dear friend in prison, but do you want them acquitted if they participated in a murder? Curious more than anything. Or maybe you just don’t think they are capable of that and think the “other one” who isn’t your friend did it and the two are covering up? Possibly Michael Price? Or do you think there was an anonymous intruder? Your post is well-stated and well-reasoned, and you indicate you’ve read the affidavit – and I’m not asking for you to give any “full” theory, but does part of you balk at any of the “believing” them in light of the affidavit?
Really curious and hoping you’ll respond. Thanks. We need some folks like you on this board.
I would hope that my “friends” would stick by me if I said I was innocent. That is what true friends do for one another. I am not supporting what they may or may not have done – I am being a supportive friend, as I am sure you would as well if someone close to you was in the same situation. As for my comments about the “evil stares,” please understand where I am coming from – I am not trying to make light of what has happened – a loss of any kind, but especially the way this loss was committed, it hard. I am merely stating what I observed in court that day. Again, I am not asking for “mercy” but trying to show what is happening on the other side as well. Families/friends are hurting here as well – again, not to take away from what the Wone’s have lost – her husband is gone, and the defendants are still here – but there is a sense of hurt of loss here as well.
If I was guilty, and told my friends I am innocent, and the evidence was, shall we say, not friendly to my position, I would be surprised my friends were sticking by me. If I was innocent, and I told my friends that I was innocent, I would hope that they would stick by me.
While you ask for understanding, I believe it is a two-way street, and would also hope that you ask your friends to be honest with you — isn’t that the basis of friendship.
David, editor
This is an interesting point with a couple facets: If I were in hot water, even if guilty, I wouldn’t want friends or family to abandon me. It might be all I’d have left while facing a bleak and uncertain future.
There’s plenty of hurt and loss to go around. And it does no one any good that there will be another 12 months (at least) until some sort of resolution is reached. If then. The suffering will only be exacerbated.
If I were guilty yet protesting my innocence, those friends that were standing me I would think of them as rubes and wondering how gullible they are. My true friends I would hope would confront me, and force me to be honest with myself, because in the end that would be the best for me and the situation. True friends don’t just support, they also do what you can’t or won’t do yourself and what is in your best interest.
David, editor
I, for one, would hope never to closely befriended a co-dependent like you.
Do you (or would you) stand by your partner in absolute trust every time he/she comes home extremely late, drunk and stinking of sex, yet pleading, “No, I was just with my friends at a party, and nothing happened!”
In your world, your “friends stick by you” no matter how big and outrageous your lies.
Not in my world. Nor hopefully, in the court of law.
I would hope that my “friends” would stick by me if I said I was innocent. That is what true friends do for one another. I am not supporting what they may or may not have done – I am being a supportive friend, as I am sure you would as well if someone close to you was in the same situation. As for my comments about the “evil stares,” please understand where I am coming from – I am not trying to make light of what has happened – a loss of any kind, but especially the way this loss was committed, it hard. I am merely stating what I observed in court that day. Again, I am not asking for “mercy” but trying to show what is happening on the other side as well. Families/friends are hurting here as well – again, not to take away from what the Wone’s have lost – her husband is gone, and the defendants are still here – but there is a sense of hurt of loss here as well.
If I was guilty, and told my friends I am innocent, and the evidence was, shall we say, not friendly to my position, I would be surprised my friends were sticking by me. If I was innocent, and I told my friends that I was innocent, I would hope that they would stick by me.
While you ask for understanding, I believe it is a two-way street, and would also hope that you ask your friends to be honest with you — isn’t that the basis of friendship.
David, editor
But one MUST ask themselves…..who cleaned the crime scene? How can this be ignored?
i still only want to know the true explanation for the missing knife. where is it? i hope colin can shed light on this simple point; surely he has wondered it himself. did he have the courage to ask; like he had the courage to comment on his perception of how robert’s friends and family looked at him.
As far as my perception, again, I am just stating what I observed sitting on the other side – I have read all the comments regarding the observations of Joe et al, and fully understand – and I did not say they were looking at me, but they were looking at “our” side. And no, I have never come right out and asked them any specific questions regarding what happened that night – we have talked about it in general. I really don’t think it is my place to ask such delicate questions – I am and will remain their friend no matter the outcome of the trial.
i appreciate your honest response.
i do hope you will stick around, and offer more insight. peace.
Colin,
You sound like a good person. I’m sure Joe, Victor and Dylan appreciate your continued presence. Kathy Wone seems like a good person also, and she was lucky to be surrounded by such a large group of supporters on Friday. Emotions will continue to run high on both sides well into next summer or fall. In this environment, I’m sure you can muster the understanding to allow and forgive the Wone supporters’ preceived evil stares, just as they should allow and forgive your characterization of their quiet observation of these proceedings.
I think something Colin should recognize is the fact the majority of the participants on this board are non-biased 3rd party individuals that have no connection to the Wone family and/or defendants.
I have no stake in this what so ever, so my opinions come from a gut, jury-like reaction to the evidence.
Until I hear concrete information from the defense, I can only go on what I know so far. And so far, things don’t bode well for the defendants.
Who knows, maybe some amazing piece of evidence will emerge from the defense, but so far, other than the defendants claims of innocence, there has been nothing that convinces me of that.
I keep waiting.
I would love to hear Colin’s impressions of what might have gone wrong that night and what he, as a friend of two of them, might allow him to think that his friends aren’t guilty of murder – or if he thinks that they may be guilty (of murder, or if not that, obstruction) what about his friends makes him feel that he wants to support them at hearings, etc. This is an opportunity for all of us to get a new and different perspective – and possibly insight. With that in mind, I hope that all commenters will allow him to talk on this subject. Personally, I don’t think if I had a good friend who I was 90% sure contributed to a murder or the cover up of a murder that I would WANT them to be acquitted – though I might visit them in prison. There’s the difference. I can love someone who’s done a terrible thing, but I would not want them to lie or not be held accountable.
And perhaps Colin doesn’t think there’s any way they (his two friends) are guilty of anything – any insight on what he thinks we might be wrongly assuming here would be very helpful.
A lame “welcome” I suppose, but I think we’re all wise to hear what Colin has to say – information and insight comes from having one’s ears open.
In Colin’s defense, he does not say in his post that he believes anyone is or is not guilty of anything. He just said that he supports his friends while they are going through this legal process. He may feel the same way as Bea says she would feel about a good friend who she thought was at least partly culpable. So, gang, Colin is a good guy and I’d hope we all have a friend like him when the going gets tough for us.
And, for the record, I do not know nor have I ever met Colin.
I have been friends with Joe and Victor for many years. Dylan I have met on a number of occassions. Do I think they are guilty? That is a tough question to answer. Certainly the circumstances and evidence leads to that conclusion – but again, that is not the Joe and Victor I know. Joe especially, has been a great friend to me. I met him when he first moved to DC. Victor I have also known for a long time, even before he and Joe were a couple. Maybe I am biased since I know them, but something happened that night that has changed their lives forever – as for Mike, I don’t think he had anything to do with it. He is not the brightest bulb in the pack. I can sit here and form my own conclusions based on the evidence….and from what I have read, they do appear to be guilty of something – but to what extent? Is the intruder theory so far fetched? I mean Joe and Victor were on the top floor making it difficult to hear what was going on. How involved was Dylan? Is he capable of doing something like this? Like I said, I do not know Dylan very well so I cannot really offer a defense against him. So many questions….
Thanks, Colin. Had you known about Joe’s relationship with Dylan, and how “okay” Victor was with that? Seems like a hard one to swallow (no pun intended) for any partner. My sense of Joe is that he may have been ‘changing’ over the years, from ambitious and committed to Victor, kind of a ‘good boy does well’ (especially compared to Michael), and maybe got a taste for the more ‘out there’ things (sexual proclivities in particular, since it doesn’t seem that Victor shared in this, only Dylan). Early mid-life crisis gone bad, maybe? I appreciate that you don’t want to speculate – and it does seem like at the time of death that Victor was either asleep or not home yet, but Joe says he went to bed at 11:00, around the time of death from the coroner’s estimation. Completely on a ‘what if’ basis, if Dylan had gotten himself into deep trouble, do you think Joe’s someone who would’ve stuck his OWN neck out and lose everything (job, status, possibly FREEDOM) for Dylan?
Colin,
Seriously, I want to thank you for bringing this perspective to the site. Good folks can tend to characterize people in terms of white and black, and what we find are shades of grey. You bring a sense of humanity of and from the defandants, and we are all the better for it.
thanks so much
David, editor
Colin – Thanks again for participating and sharing.
I concur with the gentlelady from California, Bea, that we can use more of that perspective here. It helps complete the picture.
No forced entry. Victim drugged. Sexual assault. Victim murdered w/kitchen knife. Time lapse between body being ‘found’ and call to 911. Crime scene cleaned up. Three men w/educations not sure what happened. Victim murdered within 90 min. of entering the house. Suspicious from the very start. Scheduling the trial for a year from now gives them much more time to be not sure what happened. A real injustice to Robert Wone, his widow, and the DC/MD/VA gay community. A murderer is on the loose and 3 men who were feet away from the crime scene can’t offer any information.
I have been aware of this crime for a long time, but only was lead to this site recently (maybe from Gawker, I simply don’t remember). I have been reading the site and comments for a couple of days, and I’m not even through. However, Colin’s comments struck me and I feel that even though I am speaking “out of turn” (not to mention from out of the blue) I want to point something out about what he has said:
>Colin S. May 27, 2009 at 10:25 AM ~ Was there any physical activity? Not sure – was Robert a willing participant and then freaked out?? Not sure. Why did he go there instead of going home? It’s not like it was that far that he could not go home…
Is it the position of the defendants and their friends; that Mr. Wone somehow “got himself murdered?”
Is “Physical activity” a passive (passive aggressive more like it, actually) euphemism for sadomasochistic sex? I am astounded that this speculation (all that Colin offered when asked his theories of what actually happened) went unanswered by the posters on this site. They are peculiar and smack more than a little of maligning the victim.
Annaze…I agree with your questions/suspicions. And to NOT have any ideas about what went on…that’s preposterous! Wone was a good guy who accepted his friend. He was drugged, sexually assaulted, and murdered in his ‘friend’s’ home. Evidence was tampered with. Maligning the victim is a distraction from what happened there. There was no forced entry…one or more of the three guys there know EXACTLY what happened.
Still reading, reading everything ~ posts and comments and I am still struck by Colin (who seems to have disappeared) and the construct of his speculation about Robert. For me the presence of Robert’s mouth guard pretty much negates the possibility that he willing engaged in anything sexual before he was attacked and murdered.
I am not a prude or some deluded heterosexual woman who can’t conceive of a married man dabbling in or having curiosity about homosexual sex or even sadomasochistic sex (if you knew me you would know that that is ridiculous), but this man, on this night, who was so callously attacked and who had his life taken from him had prepared himself for sleep and placed his mouth guard in his mouth to protect his teeth and is jaw from tooth grinding. That is not the act of a person embarking on any sexual adventure and I find open speculation about whether he was at the house to have a sexual encounter unconvincing and when expressed by someone who professes to be from the defendant’s “camp,” unseemly.
Sorry, make that “willingly engaged” and “his jaw.” I need an editor to post on a site with so many erudite posters.