Two child homicides in Cleveland Park/Van Ness apartment buildings in eight days

[Anonymous]

14:39 again: If a tenant has a full-time job doing low-skilled work, they do need a helping hand. Vouchers are a reasonable solution. But they have to have a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a fall could leave to cardiac arrest...

The injury was likely reported as a "fall" to 911. Likely the child was harmed by adults, ie, beaten to death. Cardiac arrest just means the heart stopped. MPD posted on ND and said there were persons of interest identified re: the 5 year old today. I have not seen that anyone was arrested in the death of the 1 year old.

We were at Bread Furst and saw and heard a big emergency response. So very sad to learn the cause. RIP little guy.

Assume he was a Murch student and that the school will provide support to those who knew him.

Confirmed that he was a Murch student and there has been an arrest. Just so sad.

[Anonymous]

This is both a tragedy and completely foreseeable. And just wait until the marijuana dispensaries open in Van Ness. Ward 3 For All.

[Anonymous]

This is so sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is both a tragedy and completely foreseeable. And just wait until the marijuana dispensaries open in Van Ness. Ward 3 For All.

How was this for seeable? Did they release additional information besides the arrest?

[Anonymous]

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/man-charged-connection-death-5-year-old-dc

I would not be surprised if there were prior LE or DC govt visits to apt. 314.

RIP little guy.

[Anonymous]

POS "father" had a felony DV charge "assault with a deadly weapon" case from 2023, dismissed in early 2024. Only other DC case besides murdering a 5 year old. Did not check MD or VA courts.

There had been a stay away order in place. Shame he was not kept locked up for the prior crime, that young child would be alive today.

DRE
Case Type: Felony Domestic Violence 2
Case Status: Closed
File Date: 05/31/2023

Action: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon
Status Date: 05/31/2023
Next Event:


All Information
Party
Event
Docket
Disposition
Docket Information
Date Docket Text Image Avail.
05/31/2023 Charge Filed
Charge #1: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon Charge 1: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon
Charge 2: Poss Firearm During Crime of Violence
05/31/2023 Charge Filed
Charge #2: Threat to Kidnap or Injure a Person Charge 1: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon
Charge 2: Poss Firearm During Crime of Violence
05/31/2023 Charge Filed Charge 1: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon
Charge 2: Poss Firearm During Crime of Violence
Image
05/31/2023 Gerstein Affidavit Filed
Image
05/31/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Presentment
Date: 05/31/2023 Time: 1:00 pm
Judge: COURTROOM C-10 Location: Courtroom C-10
05/31/2023 Pre Trial Report
Image
05/31/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 06/02/2023 Time: 9:30 am
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
05/31/2023 Defendant Preventively Detained pursuant to 23-1322(b) NO BOND
The following event: Presentment scheduled for 05/31/2023 at 1:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Preventive Detention
Judge: COURTROOM C-10 Location: Courtroom C-10
Charge #1: Assault With A Dangerous Weapon
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; Judge COURTROOM C-10 on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
05/31/2023 Attorney Appointed/
Attorney MCEACHERN, HOWARD X representing Defendant (Criminal) PETTUS, DEANDRE as of 05/31/2023
05/31/2023 Notice to Court (Attorney Appearance) Not Filed
05/31/2023 General Order 2022-12-23 Amended (Due Process Protections Consistent with Super. Ct. Crim. R. 5(4))
Image
05/31/2023 Commitment Pending Disposition Filed

Commitment Pending Disposition-C10
Sent on: 05/31/2023 15:34:39.04
Image
05/31/2023 CJA Eligibility
Image
06/02/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 06/21/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
06/02/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. Court granted parties request for a continuance. Release conditions imposed.
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 06/02/2023 at 9:30 am has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: MULKEY, SHELLY A Location: Courtroom 120
06/02/2023 Pretrial Stay Away Order Filed
Stay Away Order Imposed created on: 06/02/2023
For: PETTUS, DEANDRE
06/02/2023 Alert Issued**
Stay Away Order Imposed issued on: 06/02/2023
For: PETTUS, DEANDRE
Bond Amt:
Alert Conditions(s):
See Stay Away Order
06/02/2023 Release Conditions

Pre-Trial Services Release Form
Sent on: 06/02/2023 11:16:28.30
Image
06/21/2023 Remote Notice to Return to Court Filed

Notice to Return to Court
Sent on: 06/21/2023 12:20:33.34
Image
06/21/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 07/18/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
06/22/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. Counsel informed the Court that he has spoken with the assigned and is requesting the preliminary hearing be continued to next month. Government did not oppose request. Case set to return in July. AUSA Jacob Green was present on behalf of the government.
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 06/21/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: NOLAN JR, LLOYD U Location: Courtroom 120
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge LLOYD U NOLAN JR on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
07/18/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 08/09/2023 Time: 9:30 am
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
07/18/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. AUSA Mccranie, and defense present. The defense requested to continue the matter to a later date. Case continued.
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 07/18/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: RAYMOND, RENEE Location: Courtroom 120
HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal))
Participant(s): Judge RENEE RAYMOND on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
08/09/2023 Remote Notice to Return to Court Filed

Notice to Return to Court
Sent on: 08/09/2023 10:15:45.52
Image
08/09/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 08/29/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
08/09/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. Court granted Defense unopposed continuance request. Parties appearing in courtroom 120 including AUSA Matt Covert with Defendant appearing via WebEx.
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 08/09/2023 at 9:30 am has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: RAYMOND, RENEE Location: Courtroom 120
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge RENEE RAYMOND on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
08/29/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 09/18/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
08/29/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. AUSA Monisha Rao present for the government. The Court granted the defense request for a continuance. The defendant appeared remotely. Preliminary Hearing scheduled, defendant acknowledged next court date.

The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 08/29/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: TRAFFORD, SHERRY M Location: Courtroom 120
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge SHERRY M TRAFFORD on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
09/18/2023 Remote Notice to Return to Court Filed

Notice to Return to Court
Sent on: 09/18/2023 12:30:31.35
Image
09/18/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 10/10/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
09/18/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. AUSA Michael Lee present in the courtroom for the government. Defendant present via Webex. Attorney Howard McEachern present in the courtroom and made representations that he is still in negotiations with the government therefore requesting a continuance. Court granted defense's request and set another date. Defendant acknowledged the warning.
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 09/18/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: MULKEY, SHELLY A Location: Courtroom 120
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge SHELLY A MULKEY on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
10/10/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 11/03/2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
10/10/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. Counsel's request for a continuance to allow plea negotiations with he and the government was granted by the Court. Case set to return for a preliminary hearing early November. AUSA Courtney Schollz was present on behalf of the government.

The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 10/10/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Status, Preliminary or Other Hearing Not Held
Judge: RAYMOND, RENEE Location: Courtroom 120
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge RENEE RAYMOND on behalf of Judge JASON PARK
10/10/2023 Remote Notice to Return to Court Filed

Notice to Return to Court
Sent on: 10/10/2023 13:10:12.55
Image
10/11/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status:
The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 11/03/2023 at 2:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Hearing Vacated
Judge: JUDGE PRELIMINARY HEARING 120 Location: Courtroom 120
10/11/2023 Event Scheduled

The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 11/03/2023 at 2:00 pm has been rescheduled as follows:

Event: Preliminary Hearing
Date: 11/03/2023 Time: 12:00 pm
Judge: PARK, JASON Location: Courtroom 317
11/03/2023 Remote Notice to Return to Court Filed

Notice to Return to Court
Sent on: 11/03/2023 12:57:46.35
Image
11/03/2023 Event Scheduled
Event: Felony Status Conference
Date: 02/28/2024 Time: 9:30 am
Judge: PARK, JASON Location: Courtroom 317
11/03/2023 Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA - A plea offer was extended by the govt and placed on the record. The defendant rejected that offer and the parties proceeded with the Preliminary Hearing. Probable cause was found in this case. The defendant remains released on Personal Recognizance. The parties request for a status hearing was granted. AUSA M. Covert. All parties appeared in court.

Court Reporter: Donna Hawkins

The following event: Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 11/03/2023 at 12:00 pm has been resulted as follows:

Result: Probable Cause Found Held for Grand Jury
Judge: PARK, JASON Location: Courtroom 317
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge JASON PARK
02/28/2024 Charge Disposed - Dismissed
02/28/2024 Charge Disposed - Dismissed
02/28/2024 Case Disposed - Dismissed
02/28/2024 Event Resulted - Release Status:N/A Deft and defense counsel appeared via webex. Gov't oral motion to dismiss-granted. AUSA MCovert present.
The following event: Felony Status Conference scheduled for 02/28/2024 at 9:30 am has been resulted as follows:

Result: Dismissed - Nolle
Judge: PARK, JASON Location: Courtroom 317
DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); ; HOWARD X MCEACHERN (Attorney) on behalf of DEANDRE PETTUS (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge JASON PARK

[Anonymous]

How could you kill a 5 yr old. That’s like the cutest age.

[Anonymous]

The LE affidavit on the S Ct site re: today's hearing states that 2 little girls also live in the apartment with the late little boy (same name as father) and the father who killed him. They were present in the apt at the time of his death but were not forthcoming with details.

So much dysfunction is detailed. Moving people to NW does not fix that by osmosis. With the felony DV case against defendant, were social workers from DC or Murch keeping an eye on the 3 tiny kids?

Wonder if taking the 3 kids from the mom was part of the DV by the defendant or is she unfit in some way? Those little girls need stability and trauma therapy and safety. Absolutely tragic all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the voucher holders moving into those buildings.

I have 2 properties with voucher-holder tenants. The problem is not that the tenants hold vouchers, it's more likely that the management did not properly screen them, check background and references. My tenants are terrific.

No, the problem is DC dumping people who need significant assistance into empty apartments in neighborhoods far from their support centers (both familial and professional). The vouchers need to be combined with intensive support services. Just giving someone four walls and some help with the rent is only a very small part of the solution, but as usual, DC does it half-assed and is shocked when it doesn't work and actually makes things worse for everyone.

[Anonymous]

The release conditions document can't be viewed (WTH?!!! why isn't he held?!!!) and there is another no contact order in place.

Are either of the girls students at Murch?

I'm all for giving kids opportunities to attend better schools but having parents like this around is a danger, to their kid and possibly others. He has a gun, even after the DV arrest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the voucher holders moving into those buildings.

I have 2 properties with voucher-holder tenants. The problem is not that the tenants hold vouchers, it's more likely that the management did not properly screen them, check background and references. My tenants are terrific.

No, the problem is DC dumping people who need significant assistance into empty apartments in neighborhoods far from their support centers (both familial and professional). The vouchers need to be combined with intensive support services. Just giving someone four walls and some help with the rent is only a very small part of the solution, but as usual, DC does it half-assed and is shocked when it doesn't work and actually makes things worse for everyone.

The Council has greatly limited what landlords can check for voucher tenants, even violent criminal histories are very limited in time.

[Anonymous]

The younger than 5 girls asking if they were going to have to go back to the Defendant and being told maybe is gut wrenching.

I hope the little boy did not suffer too much. Sickening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the voucher holders moving into those buildings.

I have 2 properties with voucher-holder tenants. The problem is not that the tenants hold vouchers, it's more likely that the management did not properly screen them, check background and references. My tenants are terrific.

No, the problem is DC dumping people who need significant assistance into empty apartments in neighborhoods far from their support centers (both familial and professional). The vouchers need to be combined with intensive support services. Just giving someone four walls and some help with the rent is only a very small part of the solution, but as usual, DC does it half-assed and is shocked when it doesn't work and actually makes things worse for everyone.

It's not just DC, the HUD Housing First program dates back to Bush and explicitly prohibits any type of conditions placed on the voucher to participate in services, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The younger than 5 girls asking if they were going to have to go back to the Defendant and being told maybe is gut wrenching.

I hope the little boy did not suffer too much. Sickening.

Where did you hear this?