Charges dropped against man convicted of 2001 murder of DC intern Chandra Levy

quote:

---

All charges will be dropped against Ingmar Guandique, the man who had been convicted in 2010 of murdering Chandra Levy in 2001, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a statement Thursday.

According to the statement, prosecutors concluded they can no longer prove the murder case against Guandique beyond a reasonable doubt," based on recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week." The statement does not elaborate.

"After investigating this information and reviewing all of the evidence in this case, the government now believes it is in the interests of justice for the court to dismiss the case without prejudice," prosecutors wrote in a one-page motion.

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.

The case hinged on a jailhouse informant who said Guandique had confessed to killing Levy. Guandique's attorneys had previously asked a judge to grant him a new trial because they said that key witness in the case, Guandique's one-time cellmate, gave false or misleading testimony during his 2010 trial. Guandique's attorneys said prosecutors knew or should have known the testimony was problematic and investigated further.

Prosecutors say that as a result of their action Guandique, who is from El Salvador, will be released to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and faces removal proceedings.

---