GUILTY DC - David Messerschmitt, 30, murdered in Washington hotel room, 9 Feb 2015 #1

[LaLaw2000]

You have to use a room key to use the elevator or have someone escort you up in that hotel. That person clearly didn't know that before attempting to use the elevator.

 

[LaLaw2000]

I agree about the appearance of the clothing. The pants look like snow pants.

I agree. It also looks as if the person had on several layers on under the jacket, IMO.

 

[Tulessa]

View attachment 69390

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/28084483/police-identify-man-found-dead-in-nw-dc-hotel

It appears to be a half mixed light skinned AA female to me. Probably from the urban streets. And the text may have not been sent by him. I would check database for female violent offenders recently released. It takes aggression to stab a person to death. Maybe the text meant It's Done. Idk. We need more info. Jmo. Btw: She could be a jilted lover of someone he was seeing on the side.[/QUOTE]

Oh, it does look like a female! :thinking:

 

[DexterMorgan]

Yes, it takes aggression to stab someone to death. That is what makes it seem personal to me. You have to get up close and personal to be able to stab someone.

MOO

Agree. He may have been involved with a lover of hers. She could have tracked him by checking her lover's text or social media.

 

[panthera]

I agree. It also looks as if the person had on several layers on under the jacket, IMO.

Most likely, in my opinion, the outer layer was discarded in a nearby dumpster, perhaps with the murder weapon. I cannot see this person, assuming it's the perpetrator, having been invited into his room, at least not dressed as in the video. Also, if he informed his wife he'd be home in an hour I don't believe he was expecting anyone to come to the room.

MOO

 

[Momoffourboys]

This reads like an episode of Scandal.
I wonder what else was on the list of room contents. Condoms, maybe?
No disrespect intended, just being realistic. IMO

 

[Concerned Mama]

Is there security camera footage for the hallway that Messerschmitt's room opened onto? And if so, was it released to the public?

 

[cluciano63]

Where was the victim the rest of the time, if reported missing after 24 hours, but only in hotel for 10 hours? Or did I read that wrong? That would leave 14 hours elsewhere.

Okay, read that part again. Said he found 10 hours after report was filed. It was the "but" in the sentence that confused me

 

[panthera]

Where was the victim the rest of the time, if reported missing after 24 hours, but only in hotel for 10 hours? Or did I read that wrong? That would leave 14 hours elsewhere.

Okay, read that part again. Said he found 10 hours after report was filed. It was the "but" in the sentence that confused me

Confusion on my part also as I am unclear exactly when he was reported missing and by whom. He not only failed to get home in that hour last texted to his wife, but also failed to go to work the next day.

:waitasec:

MOO

 

[LaLaw2000]

What if Messerschmitt was not the one who sent the text? The murderer could have taken the victims cell and sent the text. The timeframe does not match up from when he was reported missing and when he was found.

I know who I think is mixed up in this.............

 

[panthera]

What if Messerschmitt was not the one who sent the text? The murderer could have taken the victims cell and sent the text. The timeframe does not match up from when he was reported missing and when he was found.

I know who I think is mixed up in this.............

I also have suspicions as to who is involved. How convenient a "text" was sent rather than a phone call, thereby making it possible that anyone could have sent it.

MOO

 

[colette]

The text was sent, then right after this the POI is seen in the hotel (supposedly going up to his room). He never makes it home that night and was found the next day at 11AM. This is my understanding of the timeline.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Snipped

David Messerschmitt's body was discovered at The Donovan on Tuesday morning - 24 hours after his wife reported him missing.

The couple, who married in 2012, lived together in an apartment just three miles from The Donovan, but police have not yet said why the 30-year-old lawyer was at the four-star hotel.

- See more at: http://www.bostonnewstime.com/natio...as-stabbed-to-death.html#sthash.5dZIEZXH.dpuf

 

[Momoffourboys]

IMO it was a set up. Sex or drugs. He had no other reason to be at a hotel 3 miles away from his own apartment.

 

[panthera]

Snipped

David Messerschmitt's body was discovered at The Donovan on Tuesday morning - 24 hours after his wife reported him missing.

The couple, who married in 2012, lived together in an apartment just three miles from The Donovan, but police have not yet said why the 30-year-old lawyer was at the four-star hotel.

- See more at: http://www.bostonnewstime.com/natio...as-stabbed-to-death.html#sthash.5dZIEZXH.dpuf

Even more curious now why she would report him missing. According to this the wife would have had to report him missing around 11:00am on Monday. So he never went to work on Monday? Strange also that some contact was made between the two for him to allegedly text he'd be home in an hour on Monday evening. His body not being discovered until Tuesday morning also indicates she supposedly did not know where he was or didn't care that he hadn't returned home that night. I am of the belief now that all was not well in the marriage and perhaps he had checked into the hotel to get away.

MOO

 

[pinkandgreenmom]

I'm glad to see a thread here for Messerschmitt. My mother had been telling me about the killing since Messerschmitt's hometown is near mine, but I hadn't seen anything about this on the Internet. The article Blondie posted doesn't give any new information but raises a lot of questions: In what way do they believe he was set up? Why would he have been set up? Who would set him up and why would they want him dead? Did the items found in the hotel room belong to Messerschmitt? He certainly wouldn't need flip flops and shorts this time of year. Someone was ready for any season. Of course, the flip flops may have been worn in the shower or hot tub, if there was one. Was the room reserved for out-of-town clients? Was Messerschmitt working on any unusual cases?

Also, Panthera's observation that Messerschmitt's wife has an Asian name while the POI in the surveillance video appears Asian is good. I imagine DC lawyers would have a lot of international clients. I believe the video is a big clue because the POI acts very suspicious. He/she kept his/her hood up and hand in front of face while walking through the lobby and in front of the elevators (making sure no one was on it?), then looked toward the lobby doors before stepping onto the elevator as though he/she wanted to make sure no one else was heading for the elevators. But, he/she stepped back out quickly, perhaps deciding that riding the elevator was too risky because someone on another floor could be waiting to board? As the POI started toward the lobby again, someone walked through the lobby doors and so the POI turned back around and pretended to be catching an elevator until the coast was clear again. Then, he/she opted to take the stairwell.

One additional thing I noticed about the video is that the POI appears lumpy, like his/her clothing is stuffed with something -- e.g., plastic bags -- to alter his/her appearance. The pictures of the POI's face are very clear, though. I hope he/she is identified and found soon.

My first job out of law school was with the precursor to this firm in the DC office (back then it was called Piper & Marbury). This was years ago, but I would say 99.99 percent of the clients in that office were large corporate clients. Government contracts, corporate law, antitrust, telecom, and corporate litigation (representing the corporate side) were the main practice areas. There were always several attorneys providing services to a client, including a partner or at minimum a more senior associate. I would say disgruntled client, to me, would be way, way down the list of suspects (unless there was some sort of personal relationship going on with a client). Also, back when I was working there, there were no hotel rooms reserved for clients. There are lots of hotels in DC and clients made their own hotel arrangements.

 

[weedemout]

Why would you look directly into the camera, only cover up your face and still go through with the murder?

 

[panthera]

Why would you look directly into the camera, only cover up your face and still go through with the murder?

May be someone who doesn't believe they can be identified, even with the security cameras. Agree though, the behavior is more consistent with someone who had already done the deed and was leaving.

MOO

 

[weedemout]

Well, they haven't been identified yet. Maybe it didn't start out as a murder? The person was definitely up to no good though. I think it was a woman too.

 

[StephanieH]

I believe this is the timeline. David got off work at around 5:30. There is a text to his wife at 5:47 stating he would be home in about an hour. His wife files the missing person's report around 1:30 AM and then his body is found 10 hours later, on Tuesday morning.
The POI arrived in the hotel ten minutes or less (depending on which cameras are to be believed) after David sent the text.

Unanswered questions: When did he arrive at the hotel, and did he check in under his own name? What other calls did he make? To who? What was his behavior in the hotel?

One possibility: He decided to go to happy hour at the bar of the hotel and he either got too drunk or was drugged. He decided to get a room to "sober up" for a little while and then something bad happened.