He was apprehended in a park.
By Amy Lamare — Written on Sep 20, 2018
Who is Anthony Crawford? Authorities have arrested a D.C. resident Anthony Crawford in the murder of 35-year-old Wendy Martinez. Martinez was murdered while she was out for an evening run in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 18th just a few blocks from her apartment. Washington Metropolitan Police detained 23-year-old Crawford for questioning late Wednesday night in a park in northwest Washington, D.C. The police later arrested him and charged him with first degree murder while armed.
The attack on Martinez, a University of Florida and Georgetown alumna, was unprovoked. She was stabbed while running near 11th and P streets northwest. She was stabbed multiple times around 8pm. The neighborhood that Martinez was running in is typically considered to be a safe one.
She staggered into a nearby Chinese takeout restaurant for help. The manager of the restaurant said he heard a woman scream and saw Martinez covered in blood. The restaurant's surveillance video shows Martinez collapsing as people rush to help her and attempt to stop the blood pouring out of her neck. She was unable to be saved. Martinez and her boyfriend had just gotten engaged last week.
1. A D.C. resident
Anthony Crawford lives in northwest D.C. He is not homeless. On Wednesday afternoon, police released surveillance video of Crawford walking along 11th Street NW. It shows him walking with a knife in his hand.
2. His arrest
Crawford was arrested in a park near 14th and Girard streets. Washington Metropolitan Police said that he did not cooperate with the arresting officers. He was injured while being taking into custody.
3. Bystanders identified him
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief of Police Peter Newsham credited the quick capture and arrest of Crawford to bystanders of the stabbing and Martinez's stagger into the restaurant who gave a very detailed description of Crawford and the clothing he was wearing. He was wearing a mustard colored shirt and rolled-up sweatpants. This allowed patrol officers to located Crawford in the park where he was arrested.
4. Criminal record
Detectives are diving into Crawford's background and history. He does have a criminal record, but not for a violent crime. In July, he was charged with misdemeanor theft under $100. His court case is pending. There are no records of prior arrests for violent crimes on his record. Chief of Police Newsham said, “We are still going over that to identify the extent of that criminal history. When an unexplained brutal attack happens in our city, we do everything we can do to get to the bottom of it, as quickly as we can. We will look very carefully at the suspect’s past to see if there is something to lead to this kind of incident that we could have potentially taken care of.”
5. Wendy
Wendy was chief of staff for the D.C. based startup FiscalNote, Inc. She got her masters in Latin American studies from Georgetown. She was an avid runner. Her family released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy. 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."
6. Increase in homicides in D.C.
Martinez's murder comes in the midst of an increase in homicides in D.C. this year. In 2018 there have been 109 homicides so far, compared with 81 at the same time last year. That is a 35% increase.
7. Attacks on female runners
Martinez is just the latest female runner to be attacked and murdered by strangers over the past few years. This summer, Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts was murdered while running. She was also stabbed. Karina Vetrano was strangled to death while running in New York. Vanessa Marcotte was murdered while running in Massachusetts. In all of these cases and that of Wendy Martinez the women did not know their killers and were attacked randomly.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.