Raymond Nels Nelson was found slain in his Northeast Washington apartment on June 1, 1981, the victim of severe blows to the head that might have been caused by a nearby typewriter.
Nearly three decades later, his killer hasn’t been caught.
A close friend and former colleague, Djelloul Marbrook, met with Nelson for lunch the week before he died. Marbrook spoke with The Examiner, and at the mention of Nelson’s typewriter, Marbrook noted the irony.
“His whole career was built on the typewriter,” said Marbrook, who worked under Nelson at the Providence Journal in Rhode Island where Nelson was a bureau chief for the newspaper.
Nelson started out as a typist, taking dictation from reporters before being hired to produce stories of his own.
“He was not a great writer, but a great reporter,” Marbrook said. “If anything was going on, Ray knew about it.”
Nelson became a Senate staffer in 1961 when Sen. Claiborne Pell hired him as his administrative assistant. Nelson had worked as a campaign manager when Pell was a candidate in Rhode Island. In 1974, Nelson joined the staff of the Senate Rules Committee.
The 59-year-old was known for being jovial and generous. He was the kind of person who would literally give someone the shirt off his back, according to Marbrook.
Marbrook attributes much of Pell’s political success to Nelson.
“Ray knew how to get people elected and serve the constituents,” said Marbrook. “He would have been a great governor.”
An award of $25,000 is offered for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the homicide. Those with information may contact the D.C. police at 202-727-9099 or e-mail information to [email protected].
