Desmond Fletcher, a 37-year-old resident of Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been found guilty by a jury on charges of felony strangulation and two counts of misdemeanor assault. The incident occurred in southeast Washington, D.C., on September 4, 2023. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The verdict was delivered on March 24, 2025, after a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Judith Pipe has scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2025.
According to evidence presented by the government, Fletcher entered the home of his romantic partner in the early hours of September 4, 2023. He confronted her inside the residence and followed her from room to room while strangling and assaulting her. The victim lost consciousness and urinated during the attack. Her minor daughter was present at home during this time. The victim eventually sought help from a neighbor who called 911.
Strangulation is considered one of the most dangerous forms of intimate partner violence. A significant study conducted in San Diego highlighted that "many victims suffer internal injuries, including permanent brain damage." It also stated that "most abusers do not strangle to kill" but to demonstrate their capability to do so. The study further noted that "the odds of becoming a victim of attempted homicide increased by 700%, and the odds of becoming a homicide victim increased by 800% among women who had been strangled by their partner."
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith praised the efforts of those involved in investigating this case from the Metropolitan Police Department as well as those from the U.S. Attorney’s Office who worked on it. They specifically acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trisha Jhunjhnuwala and Sarah Roessler from the Domestic Violence Felony Unit for their roles in investigating and prosecuting this case.
