Police Move to Arrest Suspect in Chandra Levy Case
EmailABC News’ Rhonda Schwartz, Imtiyaz Delawala and Pierre Thomas report:
Police investigating the 2001 “cold case” murder of Washington intern Chandra Levy plan to seek a warrant for the arrest of a convicted felon, currently serving jail time, who has emerged as the primary suspect in the Levy case.
The suspect, Ingmar Guandique, has been in jail since approximately July 2001 for two nonfatal attacks on women in the city’s Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., where Levy’s body was discovered in 2002.
Police hope to serve the warrant before Guandique is paroled.
Officially police are not commenting on the case, but a source inside the department told ABC News that D.C. metro Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier had contacted the Levy family to update them on developments.
"The Metropolitan Police Department has no information available for release in this ongoing investigation. This case generated numerous bits of information, which we continue to follow up on," police said in a statement.
Guandique attacked a woman two weeks after Chandra’s disappearance in the middle of May 2001, and another in July. The women were jogging in Rock Creek Park when he "clotheslined" them and dragged them down a hill. There was a struggle, they escaped and he ultimately was caught and pleaded guilty.
Guandique is now serving a 10-year sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary-Victorville in Adelanto, Calif., and is eligible for parole in 2011. The FBI most likely wants to close the case before his parole date, Brad Garrett tells ABC News.
Guandique was the focus of the last three parts of a 12-part series on Levy’s disappearance in the Washington Post metro section last year. He told the Post then that he had nothing to do with Levy’s disappearance:
"Regarding the case of the girl, Chandra Levy: I don’t know anything about that case. In 2001, the FBI went to see me when I was in the [D.C. jail]. That was when I learned about that girl," Guandique said. "Before that, I had never seen her and I don’t understand the reason why the police started to suspect me. … I have nothing to do with the death of that girl. I am innocent and I am not afraid of the police investigation."
After the Post series, D.C. and FBI cold-case squad detectives reexamined their evidence. The problem had always been a lack of conclusive physical evidence to tie Guandique to the murder.
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Wow… so then a serial killer may be the culprit and not GC? How scary. “Clotheslining?” Scarier still. I remember this story was all the rage (until 9/11/01). Although I had pegged GC. Wow how time flies…
Posted by: Tya | February 21, 2009, 1:40 am 1:40 am
If it is this man I hope they can solve the case before he is let loose from prison or he may disappear. For the family”s sake, closure would be welcome.
Posted by: Elna Hughes | February 21, 2009, 2:36 am 2:36 am
If it is this man I hope they can solve the case before he is let loose from prison or he may disappear. For the family”s sake, closure would be welcome.
Posted by: Elna Hughes | Feb 21, 2009 2:36:31 AM
This is the type of person you keep locked up forever. He’s nothing but an animal.
Posted by: Jwench | February 21, 2009, 6:28 am 6:28 am
Was this guy ever given a polygraph test? Why has it taken so long to arrest him? “The problem had always been a lack of conclusive physical evidence to tie this suspect to the murder.” What about his DNA? Surely he left some form of his personal DNA on this young woman? Am glad they are finally getting to solve this murder!
Posted by: ninaK | February 21, 2009, 7:50 am 7:50 am
eligable for parole? doesn’t the parole board consider strong circumstancial evidence? I thought the board could deny parole based on several facters. you don’t see charles manson, or Sirhan getting out, and they are eligable
Posted by: max | February 21, 2009, 7:56 am 7:56 am
One problem with the DNA was that Chandra was left in the woods for so long and the evidence had deterioated. They had a good suspect all this time and now that the suspect is approaching parole they suddenly come up with some evidence.If the police have evidence now, they had it then. DC police have been sitting on their behinds until now. Having lived in the DC area for many years, I know too well about DC police incompetence and if this were not a high profile case they wouldn’t even bother. The police did not find Chandra’s body, a citizen did that part of their job!
Posted by: AMR | February 21, 2009, 8:17 am 8:17 am
And so, I suppose all the papers and tv news outlets will start issuing apologies to Condit and start right away in helping him rebuild his life and reputation? Eh……probably not.
Posted by: JP | February 21, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am
No way, an illegal alien commiting a crime!
Posted by: No way | February 21, 2009, 8:44 am 8:44 am
Uhh, Condit’s reputation was destroyed by the revelations of his affair with Chandra Levy, his lying about it, and his failure to cooperate with the investigation. All of that was quite enough on its own. No apologies necessary.
Posted by: DP | February 21, 2009, 8:51 am 8:51 am
I agree with you DP. And perhaps he has been pressuring the police to “find” someone so that gets him off the hook. If they hang it on this illegal, what do you want to bet that he makes the talks how circuit?
Posted by: julesverne | February 21, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
What’s also suspicious is how Gary Condit’s name was left out of the article entirely. In 2001, you couldn’t read an article anywhere about Chandra that DIDN’T mention Mr. Condit’s name. And now that he’s almost exonerated, his name is omitted. How convenient for these “so called” respectable media outlets. Mr Condit may have been a liar, but he is not a murderer. I hope some comment posters know the difference.
Posted by: AC Rikmus | February 21, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
ninaK:” Surely he left some form of his personal DNA on this young woman?”
Real life isn’t like CSI. If they had DNA, they would be thrilled.
Posted by: jhw539 | February 21, 2009, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Gary Condit was proven to be a real doofus and lowlife during the sad aftermath of the disappearance of Chandra Levy. Given the amount of high profile scandals oozing out of Congress since then, I would hope the American public has the good sense to know that he should have been sent packing, whether he had anything to do with her death or not. I feel sorry for her family; there is not such thing as closure here, but it may be that justice can be served.
Posted by: DSM | February 21, 2009, 9:48 am 9:48 am
julesverne:” And perhaps he has been pressuring the police to “find” someone so that gets him off the hook.”
This comment is simply rumor mongering bordering on slander. Our police deserve a bit more respect. Condit’s done as a politician – rightfully so – and it is HIGHLY unlikely he’d have any leverage with the FBI and police to convince them to corruptly purger themselves and frame this guy. As in many other cases, a newspaper did a bunch of legwork pulling together info prompting an official review.
Posted by: jhw539 | February 21, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I highly doubt this case was cracked. All they have is a jailhouse witness saying this man confided in him. I highly doubt it. He may be the killer, but this case is not cracked!!!!
Posted by: milesbrown | February 21, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
Another illegal lowlife we are supporting either behind bars or out. This guy needs to stay in jail for a long time & if/when he gets out, sent to his own slimeball country.
Posted by: tradingwords | February 21, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
It sounds is if the had the information all along. I dont see where any new evidence or leads how brought this to the surface again. I guess all it took was getting FBI focused on crime intead of chasing prostitutes.
Posted by: ken | February 21, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am
for the sake of the family,i hope they have the right guy this ‘time’.so they will have closure.
Posted by: simplecake | February 21, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am
It is easy to say anything but, police need evidence to get a conviction. The problem from the start was chandra’s affair with Gary. Most people including felt he knew more than he was saying, as a married man.
Posted by: carson | February 21, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
Where does it say the suspect is an illegal alien? Are you making an assumption based on his name?
Posted by: ellsbells930 | February 21, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
I am all for investigating this criminal but why do we always accept all stories that point away from our high profile politicans? I would like to know besides GC what other politicans did Levy associate with and what kind of relationship did she have with them remember the death of Joe Scarbourgh,s aide These people hang around with alot of high power politicans and attend some very wild parties than they end up dead
Posted by: wah | February 21, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
And we know he is an undocumented alien because…
He has a weird (to us) last name?
Posted by: Gran | February 21, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
tenyears and this guy? she knew too much about foreign affairs and the CIA just maybe someone has discovered something and made this guy the fallguy.
Posted by: thefallguy | February 21, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
There is a pattern of officially diverting blame…just as with the Jon Benet case where investigators falsely blamed a school teacher.Both investigations divert blame away from bribed agents by the wealthy culprit…John Ramsey and Senator Condit in these cases. Police Department IMAGE always has priority over justice.
Posted by: Steve | February 21, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Condit is a creep! And besides, how do we know he didn’t hire this guy? Condit’s all washed up.
Posted by: PlanetinPeril | February 21, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Were there any other “clothesline” attacks before Chandra? Condit or other DC people knew and Condit tried to use that for his crime cover. Now that there’s this fear/hate of ME type foreigners it will be easy to pin on the guy, clearing Condit. Also, does this Guandique get released in Adelanto, Ca. or back into D.C.? Ten years for attacking women? That’s it? How many years for assault and attempted murder on another man?
Posted by: irma | February 21, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
DNA is a great tool and it is great that we have it now. We will never know how many others were unjustly accused of some horrible crime incorrectly and had we had this DNA solution, there would have been a proper conclusion.
It is great that this THUG is behind bars now and then we can try him in a court here in CALIF and send him to the gas chamber. Condit should be allowed to view this as he was unfairly accused of this crime .
While Condit may or may not have been a sleeze is anyone’s opinion but at least we know he is NOT a murderer. His wife and children also know that . His indiscretions are another story.
It is indeed too bad that this educated bright girl had her life snuffed out too early in life. That is the trajedy.
zo
Posted by: alonzo | February 21, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Sounds to me like the case was not ‘cracked’ but that DC just wants to get it off their boosks. What proof do they have today that they didn’t have in 2001?
Posted by: Ellis | February 21, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
It’s great that they have finally solved the murder of Chandra Levy, however too bad it ewas at the expense of Gary Condit, who was literally ruine d by this!!!!!
Posted by: carol | February 21, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
The whole thing sounds convenient on the timing, don’t ya think?
Posted by: Jilly | February 21, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
yes, but what proof exist that the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department are not lying about the so called “guilt” of that man??? They have everything to gain with a false conviction. I don’t trust the government as that man is being tried in the kangaroo media court and not in a court of law… I convict the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department of perjury….
Posted by: henry | February 21, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Re illegal alien status-
Do your homework. Google the man’s name, note that he had no SSN, friends & family related that he had paid to be smuggled into the USA, etc.
It is not supposition to deem him an “illegal alien”.
Posted by: Research | February 21, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Seems to me the press destroyed a congressman and his family. I think a apology is in order. I am relieved to know the real person is caught and shocked. May she now rest in peace. This is a example of how innocent people who are human can have their lives totally ruined.
Posted by: Steve | February 21, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Of course no one is talking about if this SOB is a legal or illegal immigrant. Whatsuup ABCNews? Don’t reporting on the talking immigrant crime wave that is happening in the country from the grand infestation?
Posted by: dzookie | February 21, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Research–
I don’t think googling counts as research.
Posted by: not on task | February 21, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
Correction. I get so excitred about these issues I forget to proofread:
Of course no one is talking about whether this SOB is a legal or illegal immigrant. Whatsuup ABCNews? Don’t like reporting about immigrant crime wave that is happening in the country from the grand infestation of illegals?
Posted by: dzookie | February 21, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Looks like the Feds found another patsy to get Gary Condit off the hook.A piece of scum that nobody cares about without the money or connections to fight it.They will no doubt find DNA “evidence” to seal his fate and close a case with potential embarrassments for the established political order.
I wonder if there might be a link to this case in Los Angeles, with a person who had dinner with George W. Bush because he gave $10,500 to the National Republican Congressional Committee—I can prove it.George W. Bush is not the only president linked to THAT paper trail in particular–I can prove that also.I wonder how Hillary’s trip to Beijing is going?
Posted by: Luis Rodriguez | February 21, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Suspect or scapegoat for GC? Who knows?
Posted by: nononsense08 | February 21, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Barack Obama, Gary Condit = all of them are filthy murderers.
Posted by: Karen | February 21, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
She was born on the anniversary that the Titanic started sinking.It finally sank in the early morning hours of 4/15/1912.
Spirow Agnew lost his job because of taxes. Nixon never saw it heading his way.He told Frost that if the president does it, then it is NOT illegal.
Posted by: Philip Agee | February 21, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
How are Barack Obama and Gary Condit “filthy murderes”????
Posted by: davn8r | February 21, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
If you believe this story, you are stupid.
Posted by: todd | February 21, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
IT WAS THE CONGRESSMAN..THEY JUST NEEDED SOMEONE TO CLEAR HIS NAME AND WHO BETTER, THAN AN ILLEGAL SITTIN IN OUR JAILS, WHO PROBABLY GOT PICKED UP FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY..THE CONGRESSMAN HAS THE MONEY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN..BUT HELL I’M NO LAW MAN OR CLAIM TO BE, I JUST FEEL HE MAY SOON BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT..LOL..
Posted by: xmill14 | February 21, 2009, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
I wonder what the new evidence is? some articles say it is DNA evidence? It was mentioned in the lengthy Washington Post story that Chandra’s body was found a year afterwards and the DNA evidence would of been washed away by then.
My guess is that the story mentions that the area was not adequately searched after Chandra’s remains were found and that the police went back and found a considerable amount of additional remains using cadaver smelling dogs, but possibly missed a vital piece of evidence. The knife mentioned in the story by the jailhouse informant was said to have been left at the scene maybe it was recovered after all this time by using a metal detector, also it was mentioned that Guandique carried his knife wrapped in a red cloth and then also mentions a red piece of clothing was found at the crime scene? The way this case was bungled from the start it wouldn’t surprise me if the Knife was finally found and connected to Chandra, or maybe he didn’t leave the knife behind but that the knife was confiscated by the park police but never was handed over to the detectives for testing and Chandra’s blood may have been recovered from the crevices.
It will be interesting for all of us at home armchair forensic detectives to finally find out the truth after all these years. The fact that the case was finally cracked but leaked again to the press before the new facts are presented only makes this case more intriguing.
Rest in Peace Chandra your killer has finally been caught.
Posted by: Ron | February 22, 2009, 4:02 am 4:02 am
what is this pervert murderer’s residency status and country of origin? Is he here illegally? If so, why was he allowed in? Why was he allowed to stay? And is his home country paying for the costs of jailing him?
Posted by: Ed | February 22, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
The whole thing is pretty fishy……
DNA recovered from a year old decomposed body in the woods?
Read up…. she knew too much.
Posted by: a.e. | February 22, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
This is the same ****** nonsense about when they claimed they had some pervert who killed jon bonet ramsey and that the parents were exonerated.
Perps don’t cooperate with authorities and neither Gary Condit or Jon Bonet’s parents cooperated.
Posted by: hotdog | February 23, 2009, 7:37 am 7:37 am
What was Louis Freeh doing the day Chandra Levy vanished?Coleen Rowley wrote her memo to Robert Mueller. On 5/21/2002 it became public.(The next day they found Chanra Levy’s body).Then we started hearing about the Phoenix memo around the same time.Gary Condit was involved in what?Wasn’t there a stewardess that made the news in the summer of 2001? She said what about Gary Condit?
Posted by: Luis Rodriguez | February 24, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Tony Coehlo and Gary Condit have what in common?Tony Coehlo was pals with the weatherman, Al Gore? So Al Gore tells Tony coehlo and Tony Coehlo tells Gary Condit, who in turn tells Chandra Levy.How else would Tony Coehlo know?Does he gamble?The Americans with Disabilities Act would give him access to all sorts of records…
Posted by: Philip Agee | February 24, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
This guy is an illegal alien. How is it that he’s up for parole in 2011?
Posted by: rjjrdq | February 24, 2009, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Told ya’ so … years ago.
Posted by: Blip | March 4, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am