Ricardo Botts, 36, of Washington, D.C., has been arrested and charged in connection with the homicide of his mother in Southeast D.C. The incident took place during the early morning hours of September 21, 2025.
According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Botts appeared before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Heide Herrmann on September 23, 2025. Judge Herrmann determined there was probable cause to believe Botts committed second-degree murder while armed and ordered that he be held without bond until a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 7, 2025.
Court documents state that Botts attacked his 66-year-old mother in the living room of their shared residence by stabbing her multiple times in the head and face. She died within a day and a half from her injuries. After the assault, police say Botts fled out the back of the home as officers arrived at the scene. The Capital Area Regional Task Force later located and arrested him in Chantilly, Virginia on September 22, 2025.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing these developments.
The Metropolitan Police Department is leading the investigation with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Bromwich.
“These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
