Although a couple weeks late, we mark the 4th anniversary of the first post.
While biking past 1509 Swann Street the other day, we were again struck by the block’s beauty. No matter what the season, it remains one of Washington’s most charming streets.
The trees were bare and the late afternoon sun dappled the handsome facades. Residents were putting up Christmas decorations, and in fact, the new owners of 1509 were hard at work hanging wreaths that afternoon.
We’ve long given up trying to make sense of the crime that occurred there, although in private moments, we think we’ve picked the lock and have pieced together exactly what happened on that August night in 2006, and who is responsible for Robert’s murder and its cover-up. But the “why” always escapes us.
With the perspective of years, we have complete confidence in one important “why,” and that is the people who came here to respect and honor Robert’s life. It’s because they cared, maybe the most important “why” there is.
We did the easy part. Thousands of visitors, commenters and sharp minds came together here for years and still do. Many have become friends. They are the true testament and legacy of this site and they will always have our deepest and most sincere thanks.
Michael, Doug, David and Craig
Season’s Greetings, WMRW editors and all who visit and post here. There are cold cases that get solved all the time. There won’t be any true peace in this lifetime for those involved in Robert Wone’s murder. And there shouldn’t be, of course. So, here’s to justice in this case, for justice, justice shalt we pursue.
Mention of R. Wone’s murder here:
http://www.asianweek.com/2012/12/21/the-sandy-hook-newtown-shootings-and-terrorism/
Interesting, Susan. Thanks for posting that article. Merry Xmas to all, even to a shadowy trio in Miami Shores. Hope springs eternal that certain guilty consciences will suddenly have an epiphany, and that Chief Lanier’s investigation is actually still “very active.”
Thanks to the Editors for maintaining this now-dormant site: one does need a periodic update on each of the characters, however minor, if only for historical purposes.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the editors and supporters of this website. Thank you for keeping this site alive to remember Robert Wone.
Fist, Happy New Year to all.
As it happens, before coming to this site today and seeing the recent update and comments on this and some other postings, I chose today to randomly check the Florida Bar website. Joe still is not listed – imagine that. There are now and have been two Joseph Price’s listed – one deceased and the other admitted in Florida in 2001 long before Joe needed that escape route.
I continue to hear some of what the trio are doing down in Miami Shores, but I cut myself off long ago from that trio and don’t myself bring up their names with those who may remain in contact.
Best to all and here’s to Robert and to Kathy!
Meto
Meto, good to see your name!
To our dear Eds., and to the numerous “pals” I’ve found here, and to the ones who loved Robert, here’s to a productive 2013!!!!
Happy New Year to all, indeed — one may wonder if Joe is happy with not being part of the Florida bar. Playing the matronly wife to both Victor and Dyl may not be a sustainable role for the former Arent Fox partner.
I think Dylan could potentially live “off the grid” for quite a while. Victor and Joe really can’t. I’m curious to know how they’re all doing now that the dust has more or less settled.
I am, too, and I also wonder how the new owners of 1509 are dealing with the legacy of previous residents. Hmmm.
Eric Holder is being kept in the Obama Cabinet — his lackluster performances still have not caught up with him.
I wonder if Dyl’s business has picked up this time of year — with its therapeutic gloss and all. Someone has to foot those bills!
We’ve long given up trying to make sense of the crime that occurred there, although in private moments, we think we’ve picked the lock and have pieced together exactly what happened on that August night in 2006, and who is responsible for Robert’s murder and its cover-up.
As an on-and-off reader of this site over the last several years (I believe I’ve posted a handful of times), I don’t remember seeing the editors’ theory as to what happened that night. Does it exist in public (or only private)? Thx.
I echo Phil’s question. I have not posted on this site in quite a while, and when I did it was under a different name. But I am also hoping against hope for a resolution to this case sometime, somehow.
I too am curious about the aforementioned theory. Can you elaborate?
Josh, Adam, Phil–read the site. You will learn what theories are out there. What are your theories (provided you are not a cabal, in which case, what is your theory-singular)?
I have no good theory. That’s why I asked. 🙂
[My own initial theory–that Robert Wone was (at least in the beginning) a voluntary participant in that night’s activities–a theory which I thought might explain a whole lot, frankly–was quickly and, by ALL accounts, rightly shot down.]
What if the term “intruder” was a sort of misnomer. Imagine a very high-ranking government official being an invited guest who accidentally took things too far.
(I remember a Jonathan Kellerman novel where a president has extramarital liaisons while the secret service stands guard and when questioned they say something like “well, we are the ‘secret’ service after all”)
So… did any congressmen or other power-players go mysteriously AWOL in the days following the murder?
No.
“Power-players” at that level would not be on Swann Street in early August, despite the infamous “Mercedes, Mercedes, Mercedes” nonsense.
Much as I’m interested in any theory, my guess is that it’s as ugly and as mundane as any murder. The Eds. haven’t put forth their theory of what happened, although individual ones have posted questions and comments like the rest of us as to what is incontrovertible. For me, all I can say is my honest opinion is that Joe covered up what he knew (many telling pieces of evidence, the most important for me is he knew that the back gate was locked and the intruder had not exited through it – nobody LEAVING a crime scene goes back over a 7 ft fence when a door is right there); too, Dylan lied about what he knew (I realize there are many knocks on polygraphs, but he was the only one who agreed to take one, or couldn’t figure out how to get out of it, and failed). Other than those fairly concrete opinions, mine fall to speculation simply because we can’t know – but I’m guessing that Victor came downstairs alone when he screamed, that Joe and Dylan were already in his sight of whatever caused the scream – no one upon “finding” Robert said “is Dylan okay?” or “let’s check on Dylan”. Didn’t happen the way they said it did.
“Let’s enter a gay household … yet kill its first-time guest on a school night.” Said no intruder ever!
Take nothing! Pass by one bedroom! Get way lucky with hitting paydirt on the first stab wound so he couldn’t fight back (or punctured him with needles full of rarely detectible drugs)! And I have nothing, absolutely nothing, to show for it!
Or, alternatively, “let’s stab myself at an impossible angle on a school night in an openly gay friend’s home.” Said no suicidal “straight” guest ever.
Caught several seconds of Eric Holder at the State of the Onion address tonight. During the ceremonious entry meet and greet period. Made me think of his former colleague. I have to guess others might have made that leap of thought and been reminded of Robert Wone. I hope so. Because some names and some people will forever bring to mind the murder of Robert Wone.
Caught several seconds of Eric Holder at the State of the “Onion” address tonight. During the ceremonious entry meet and greet period. Made me think of his former colleague. I have to guess others might have made that leap of thought and been reminded of Robert Wone. I hope so. Because some names and some people will forever bring to mind the murder of Robert Wone.
Why were Wone and Holder friends? Given Holder’s performance in 2007, how did he become Attorney General in 2009?
Speaking of players in the Robert Wone case, I crossed paths today with Robert Wone prosecutor Glenn Kirschner. His head was back to being fully shaved, just as it was during the June 2010 trial. He seemed to let the smooth look go after the trial. He might be in another trial. He looked to be with his wife as he had a woman on his arm. I hope things are going well for him.
David
Cathy in the news:
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/02/cathy-lanier-ignored-officer-misconduct-claims-in-2010-board-says-85763.html
Is anyone surprised?
In other news:
http://www.agweb.com/article/national_milk_mustache_%E2%80%9Cgot_milk%E2%80%9D_campaign_and_taye_diggs_team_with_kelloggs_to_support_the_share_breakfast_program/
How charming: Victor continues to rebound — his career may be enough for three!
Cathy was on NPR yesterday. The discussion was about females who are running police departments. I was wishing someone would phone in and ask why the Robert Wone murder case has been ignored by her department for several years.
Several years ago, on a radio call-in show, she claimed the Wone case was still active. Even if that really had been true, the Keystone Cops in her department could never solve this case.
Perhaps a break will come when the killer strikes again, figuring he can get away with murder a second time. Maybe he’ll do it to silence someone who knows too much.
Bill 2,
Thanks for posting this info. and good to see your posts. I hope she realizes most of us wouldn’t care if she were a monkey–male or female– if she worked to resolve more cases like this one.
As the “very active” investigation continues to be “very active,” one might look for alternatives:
http://www.policymic.com/articles/34491/rehtaeh-parsons-rape-case-solved-by-anonymous-in-less-than-2-hours-despite-no-evidence
Clio,
What a heartbreaking story and may that poor girl rest in peace. I couldn’t read beyond a few paragraphs. And since I couldn’t read further I will hope those a**holes who bulled and raped that girl are rotting in behind some rusty bars as I type. And I hope they never see freedom again.
You are so right, though. Maybe it’s time the senseless, brutal murder of Robert Wone gets on the radar of Anonymous or other crime-solving vigilantes.
http://www.agweb.com/article/national_milk_mustache_%E2%80%9Cgot_milk%E2%80%9D_campaign_and_taye_diggs_team_with_kelloggs_to_support_the_share_breakfast_program/
Hey, this is in the news, too:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20130302/ESN01/302270067/Va-warriors-project-recognizes-Walker
This is the type of story I like to read. Robert’s good work lives on.
And, the Joseph Ray Price Award goes to whomever finds “the real killers!”
Clio, I wanted to “Like” your comment, but there was no button to click.
Speaking of which, I wonder how his DC venture is going.
Since we’re doing news. . . Dyl’s massage parlor has a Facebook page but it appears that the website got shut down. And to do a final update on Joe, well, all I can see is that he’s still NOT a member of the Florida bar. Read: Vic pays the bills.
May those bills include playtime expenses for the underemployed members of the unconventional household? What does Joe do all day, if denied both a legal and political career? Plumbing and grilling, anyone?
In D.C. For the first time since I started following this case, I took a spin by 1509. Shocked by how tiny the place is as viewed from the street and by how narrow the street is.
Hoya,
Seeing the home really does bring into clear focus why the authorities were so skeptical of the intruder story. Once inside the home, it feels even smaller. Makes the “we didn’t hear anything” line near comical if the matter weren’t so serious.
Hope you are enjoying DC!
David
An 1886 “sardine can” in DC still trumps a non-descript Floridian bungalow, but not by much. And, “the real killers” are still on the loose!
Are they all still living in Florida? I’ve wondered about that, now that the dust has settled from the civil suit. If they can move out of Florida, then they’ve obviously come out of this “in the black”. If they’re still stuck there, it probably suggests that, between legal fees and settlement fees, they have to stay in the Florida house, since Florida law shields the house from the people they owe money to.
I’m also wondering if the insurance company paid out for the civil suit settlement, or if they did their own investigation, got no co-operation from the three, and then refused to pay out.
Last year, there was a photo of Victor at a milk event away from DC and Florida. I wonder if he’s supporting the other two from his milk salary. When he’s away from Florida working on his dairy promotions, does he wonder who is visiting the other two for fun and games? It all started while he was away and the other two were left at home. How often does that cross his mind while he’s alone in an office in Virginia?
/lurk off
Watching an old episode of Law and Order: criminal intent (Frame) this afternoon. In the show Goren’s brother is killed by his nemesis Nicole. At the autopsy, the Doc finds “sperm in his urethra and along with crack cocaine and succinylcholine” A paralytic drug tht can cause you to stop breathing. They find a needle mark in the brothers side and remark that he was afraid of needles. Anyway….
I was curious if that is a drug which is commonly screened at autopsy or if it has to be specifically looked for. Of course we might never know.
Could explain needle marks on Robert and a reason to cover up.
/lurk on
http://statement-analysis.blogspot.com/2012/11/amanda-knox-email-analyzed.html
Look at what he says here about when water or shower is mentioned. I don’t know how water/shower = sexual abuse, but in Robert’s case we all know how much they mention water and showers.
I got excited and posted too soon. Here is what he says about water and showering.
Second mention of “shower” indicating high sensitivity. This means that “shower” is very important to the subject. Water in statements is similar to when a school teacher notices a student suddenly washing her hands repeatedly, and becomes concerned for sexual abuse. It is not that Amanda took a shower, or that Meredith took a shower: it is that the subject felt it important enough to bring this common activity into her statement (email).
On this Mother’s Day, I wish for Robert Wone’s mother the hope that her son’s murderer will one day be brought to justice. For the murderer or muderers mother/s: My condolences for bringing a loser killer/killers into the world.
Nice wishes for Robert’s mother, Susan. Let’s hope justice isn’t far off.
A year ago “Greenwich Magazine” revisited the case of George Smith IV, who vanished from a cruise ship, seven years prior, in 2005. He was honeymooning aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise liner in the Aegean Sea and went overboard. At the time the article was being written, the FBI was trying to transfer the case from the Connecticut FBI office to the New York FBI office because two of the persons of interest that they are looking at live in NY.
It would be interesting if “The Washingtonian” (magazine) would look into the Wone case, from seven years ago. They could ask a few questions and get some opinions from Scott Hixson, the neighbor and sometime bed partner of 1509 Swann Street residents. They could also check with Sarah Morgan’s friends to find out if she gave a reason for staying with them the night of the murder and if she was always a guest when Victor Zaborsky was out of town. In a sidebar, they could get Attorney General Holder’s opinion on why the DC police have not actively pursued the killer(s) and accomplice(s) for the past three years. Is it because they botched the investigation so badly that DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier doesn’t want it to get any more attention?
Those are the thoughts that came to me when reading that the FBI was still actively working on a case that came to them seven years prior.
Agree, Bill. Perhaps by now some of the peripheral “characters” might be willing to shed additional light on what happened that night which might open new avenues for review. Still think it possible that there was a pre-planned Alt dot com playmate slated to arrive for the evening. The lack of camera equipment found in the house is another line of questioning I’d follow up on, even if to confirm with Sarah the cameras/video she recalled the men owning and using. Seems ripe for a do-over in terms of asking tangential questions that might shake things up.
You’re right about the cameras, Bea. The lack of camera equipment sends up a big red flag. I doubt if the police have any interest in a do-over, but there may be hope from other sources.
If left to the police, the Martha Moxley murder probably would not have been solved. It was moved forward by investigative questioning done by men who wanted to write about the case. That’s why I think that the only way to get the right attention for the Wone murder will come from someone asking the questions that the police failed to ask; starting with the peripheral “characters.”
I still think the correct pressure point is Victor. Someone just needs to show up at reception and say, “Is Victor available? We’re doing a story about the murder that happened in his guest bedroom. If he’s all booked up, we can come back tomorrow.”
No doubt, most people figure that what Zaborsky knows would go a long way to solving this case. As long as he thinks Price is faithful to him, he’s not going to budge. In view of rumors about Price’s past history, it would seem that he may be working hard to keep from bringing others into his bed when Zaborsky is away.
I am just wondering–the trouple, particularly J. Price–was well known within certain well-known factions of the gay community in DC. He also was a partner in a high-profile law firm, an alumni of a well-known regional school. Who knows if any parties therein were playahs in menage a whoknows-how-many- trois and would be tres embarrassed if anyone dug more deeply into their relationships, etc. The case did get major coverage but the police bungled so much. Who knows what lurks under stones yet to be uncovered. Maybe the answer to WMRW. Maybe Harry Jaffe or another local writer who covered the case will step up to do a where the case stands now piece.