Police in Washington DC has made an arrest in the fatal stabbing of a newly engaged technology company executive who was attacked while jogging Tuesday evening. During a press conference Thursday morning, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the arrest of 23-year-old Anthony Crawford, of northwest DC, in the brutal killing of 35-year-old Wendy Martinez. Chief Newsham said a combination of information received from patrol officers and tips from members of the publicity generated by a surveillance video helped homicide detectives track down Crawford in Girard Street Park on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old was taken in for questioning and charged this morning with first-degree murder while armed. 'We do not have any information to suggest that Wendy knew or had any association with the suspect in this case,' the chief of police told reporters. 'We also do not have any information to suggest it was a robbery, so the motive in this case right now is unknown.'
Newsham said the suspect was initially taken to a hospital with an injury to his hand, and he described him as being uncooperative. Crawford had a prior criminal history in DC, but the chief declined to go into specifics, only saying his past record did not include violent offences. On Wednesday, shocking footage emerged showing a mortally wounded Martinez running into a Chinese takeout store for help. The video, obtained by Fox News, the victim dash into the restaurant as blood gushed from a laceration to her neck. While some ran away from the horrific scene, other patrons rushed to her side. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Martinez was out for an evening run near Logan Circle just before 8pm when she was attacked by a knife-wielding male stranger at the intersection of 11th and P streets.
Chief Newsham described the event as: 'very disturbing'. 'You have a young woman out here exercising... in a very safe neighbourhood,' he said.'You have a lot of people out here, who are enjoying dinner across the street. It's unsettling.' The Georgetown graduate had just become engaged just last week, according to her heartbroken family, with a storybook proposal and an emerald ring. A photo from the happy occasion shows fiance Daniel Hincapie in a blue suit, down on one knee, with a ring box open as she stood beaming. Family say she was excited to be planning her wedding to the DC bank executive.
Martinez lived not far from the crime scene and was an avid jogger known to run for miles. Her Facebook account features photos from past races. Police believe the attacker, described as a black man, did not know Martinez and that it was most likely a random act of violence and a 'singular incident.'The chief said the suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeve mustard-coloured shirt, dark coloured sweatpants, white socks and light-coloured sandals. Police have released surveillance video showing the person of interest casually walking in the area around the time of the deadly attack, swinging an arm. Fox 5 DC reported that the knife used in the stabbing has been recovered at the scene.
The victim's family released a statement after the shocking murder, describing the 'light of our lives' daughter who was killed. They said at a party:'Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional. Everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be. She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé, Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week.'
According to her LinkedIn profile, Martinez had a Master's degree in Latin American studies and conflict resolution from Georgetown University. For the last two years, she had worked as chief of staff at the technology and management company FiscalNote.Martinez's employer addressed the news of her violent death in a tweet sent out on Wednesday.'The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night,' the message read. 'Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy's family and friends.
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