Keyword Search:
text size: A | A | A
Charges Loom for Suspect in Chandra Levy Slaying
posted 02/23/09 4:36 pm
ABC 7 News - Charges Loom for Suspect in Chandra Levy Slaying
Stay on top of breaking news!
Sign up for ABC 7 News e-mail alerts.
Your Email:  
Follow ABC 7 News on Twitter
Follow ABC 7 News on Facebook
related stories:
Washington - Officers may be getting ready to arrest a man in a federal intern's notorius murder, and ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 is learning more about the Salvadoran suspect and what he's accused of doing to women in Rock Creek Park.

Chandra Levy's death has dogged detectives for nearly eight years. The 24-year-old intern's remains were found in Rock Creek Park, but her killer was never caught until, perhaps, now.

Sources say authorities are on the verge of arresting 27-year-old Ingmar Guandique, an illegal Salvadoran immigrant serving 10 years in a federal California prison for attacking two other women in Rock Creek Park around the time Levy disappeared.

Today, however, there are no new developments.

"I don't want to speak out of school...I don't want to jeopardize anything," says, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. "We are moving very fast and we can't promise anything, but hopefully we'll be able to make an announcement in the next week or so."

The Levy case riveted the nation when it turned out she'd been having an affair with former California congressman Gary Condit.
Condit was never charged but lost his bid for re-election. Critics say that the case focused more easily on the then married man.

Condit, a popular California official who eventually lost his seat because of the scandal, always maintained his innocence. The latest development is a chance to finally clear his name for good and close the door on this tragic episode.

Guandique,who lived for a time in an apartment on Somerset Place Northwest--not far from Rock Creek park--was questioned at the time but released. Some accused police of sloppy work such as, searching the wrong area and failing to interview the other victims until months later. But a new police chief brought in new detectives and a new focus on cold cases, and maybe, for Chandra Levy's parents, an end to eight years of waiting and not knowing. 

Police say new forensic evidence has led them to Ingmar Guandique, currently in prison after a conviction for assaulting two female joggers not far from where Levy's body was found.

Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin noted, "For those of us who have been following this case for all these years, Guandique is not a surprise suspect. In fact, one of the big questions about this investigation is why wasn't he focused on earlier. And why wasn't he? Well, this was a botched investigation, I think it's safe to say."

But for the Levy family, "closure" is a term they specifically eschew. Susan Levy, Chandra's mother, said, "For the families that remain, there is no closure. Absolutely not. Only sadness and a void in our hearts."

Now on the verge of vindication, Condit -- who, police say, stonewalled during the initial investigation -- has said he is eager to tell his side of the story and is reportedly considering writing a book.

 Email To Friend  Email This Article  AddThis Feed Button     Add to Mixx!

read more stories in Local News

ABC 7 Talkback - Story Comments
You need to be a registered member of
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Username or Email Address
Password
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
More News and Videos


TM & © WJLA/NewsChannel 8, a division of Allbritton Communications Company
Please read our Privacy Policy. By using this site, you accept our Terms of Service.
Children's Television | EEO Reports | DTV Consumer Education Reports
Closed Captioning Contact Information
WJLA adheres to the ICRA RATING SYSTEM
  {ts '2009-10-14 18:43:05'}