Now that Cathy Lanier has a few more years as the city’s top cop, perhaps she can find out who murdered Robert Wone — but she might need some help. The Wone case is perhaps the most odd and mysterious murder in the city’s history. Wone, an attorney with Radio Free Asia, was found murdered Aug. 2, 2006. The case has everything: a Dupont Circle address, an upstanding victim slain by stab wounds in his chest, three gay men who were in the house when the murder took place — but didn’t see or hear any commotion, many clues, but no one charged with the dastardly deed.
What we do have is a horribly botched police investigation. Which is why it might be time to turn the case over to outside experts, namely the Vidocq Society, an organization of lawmen who have been solving unsolved cases around the globe.
“Cathy Lanier continues to say the Wone case is an active investigation,” says Doug Johnson, one of the editors of the “Who Murdered Robert Wone” web site. “The last thing is for murder charges to be brought. That hasn’t happened.”
What has happened is that prosecutors brought conspiracy, evidence tampering and obstruction of justice charges against the three men in the house the night of Wone’s murder. Joseph Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky stood trial in May. A judge found them not guilty, because the government failed to prove its case, in her opinion.
“What we would like, what the [Metropolitan Police Department] would like, is that the responsible party or parties be brought to trial,” Johnson says. “This is our last chance to get there.”
So Johnson and his three collaborators on the Web site want to bring in the Vidocq Society.
Johnson, a journalist with Voice of America, has a point. The Vidocq Society might be able to crack the case. Based in Philadelphia, it has 82 members from 17 states and 11 countries beyond the United States. Its experts include forensic specialists and investigators who would bring fresh eyes to the Wone case.
The society, named after a French inspector of the same name, has had a bit of fame of late. It’s been featured on TV and the subject of a book. But its results are real: It takes only cold cases that occurred at least two years ago; the victim cannot have been involved in a dangerous or illicit activity; and a law enforcement agency has to request it to join the investigation. It claims a 90 percent closure rate on nearly 300 ice-cold cases.
Johnson and his mates wrote to Chief Lanier on Nov. 24 and asked her to welcome Vidocq. “It’s our deep hope you will take the Society up on its offer of help,” they wrote, “so that all of Washington may find justice for Robert Wone.”
But isn’t this an admission of failure?
“Not in any way,” Johnson says. “It’s a request for help.”
I put the question to Lanier and haven’t heard back. But I hope to press the matter, because Robert Wone, and his family, deserve answers.
And — it’s free.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
