WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — Prosecutors say they will not retry a man convicted of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy.
A D.C. judge moved to dismiss the case against the prime suspect in the 2001 killing of the intern.
The U.S. Attorney asked to toss out case, citing what seems to mysterious new evidence obtained in the past week.
According to the statement, prosecutors concluded they could not convict Ingmar Guandique "based on recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week." The statement does not elaborate.
Prosecutors had been preparing to retry Salvadoran immigrant Guandique, who'd been convicted in her death before the case against him collapsed.
Levy's 2001 disappearance created a national sensation after the Modesto, California, native was romantically linked with then-Congressman Gary Condit.
Levy's remains were found in Washington's Rock Creek Park in 2002. Prosecutors argued her death fit a pattern of attacks Guandique committed on female joggers. He was found guilty in 2010 of Levy's murder but granted a new trial last year.
Police tried to pin the murder on Gary Condit, the married Congressman who'd had an affair with the 24-year-old intern.
But it's unclear if anyone will ever pay for the death of a young intern who came to Washington, like so many others, with big dreams.
Prosecutors said they no longer have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Guandique is guilty.
The judge just dismissed the case against him without prejudice, which means they can charge him again later if they can pull together more evidence at some point.
Guandique finished his sentences in the other attacks in Rock Creek Park years ago.
But that does not mean he'll be out on the streets of America any time soon.
When he's done at the D.C. jail, immigration agents plan to detain him and begin proceedings to send him back to El Salvador.
Officials released the following statement Thursday:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is deeply committed to ensuring that justice is served in all of its cases. Today, in the interests of justice and based on recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week, the Office moved to dismiss the case charging Ingmar Guandique with the May 2001 murder of Chandra Levy. The Office has concluded that it can no longer prove the murder case against Mr. Guandique beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the Office will not proceed with the retrial of Mr. Guandique, who was found guilty in 2010 of first-degree felony murder and other charges. Mr. Guandique has been incarcerated while awaiting retrial. Pending action by the Court , Mr. Guandique will then be released to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where he faces removal proceedings.
