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

[time]

Sorry to butt in. Been reading most of the posts, but I may not be up to speed. Did anyone solve the "R" word. It looked like Rocur to me, and one option I came across was Rocuronium, a muscle relaxer (I think given intravenously and mostly for surgery? ). I know it's off the wall, but thought I would post anyway.

 

[time]

A few thoughts so far (all my personal opinion):

(1) If you scroll through the obituary guest book, It is clear that all the entries are directed to the victim's parents and seem to be their family friends (and of course the funeral took place in his hometown and not the couple's marital domicile). It seems like the wife and her family are disconnected from the funeral and I wonder if that is a relevant clue (could also be the awkwardness of how he died but still seems significant).

(2) I kind of lean toward setup, and I think it is because of the enema. That is something stereotypically associated with anal intercourse between males, but in reality not that many actually do that, leading me to think it was planted there. Does not mean the victim was not having or seeking same-sex encounters but it does point more to a staged scene designed to look like a hookup gone bad.

(3) In the wedding registry the wife's name at the top appears as "Bich" whereas everywhere else it is Kim. Not sure if it was hacked (incorrect spelling of Bit*h?) or if it is her ethnic name but that just popped out as I looked at the link.

She is listed as Bich N Vuong on Intelius on on professional sites. http://www.healthgrades.com/provider/bich-vuong-3y8y7

 

[TTF14]

A few thoughts so far (all my personal opinion):

(1) If you scroll through the obituary guest book, It is clear that all the entries are directed to the victim's parents and seem to be their family friends (and of course the funeral took place in his hometown and not the couple's marital domicile). It seems like the wife and her family are disconnected from the funeral and I wonder if that is a relevant clue (could also be the awkwardness of how he died but still seems significant).

(2) I kind of lean toward setup, and I think it is because of the enema. That is something stereotypically associated with anal intercourse between males, but in reality not that many actually do that, leading me to think it was planted there. Does not mean the victim was not having or seeking same-sex encounters but it does point more to a staged scene designed to look like a hookup gone bad.

(3) In the wedding registry the wife's name at the top appears as "Bich" whereas everywhere else it is Kim. Not sure if it was hacked (incorrect spelling of Bit*h?) or if it is her ethnic name but that just popped out as I looked at the link.

Bich is actually a Vietnamese name: http://www.namesforbaby.org/bich/

Interesting about the obituary guestbook!

 

[bflocket]

Bflocket,
In your opinion and if you had to guess...
Would you say hook-up gone wrong? Or a complete set up to shame DM and family?

I don't know if it was a hook-up gone wrong. If anything, I think the "hook-up" was a way to get him by himself...

 

[Happyshoes]

Just a few thoughts (and kudos to all posting here, really making insightful comments). I am wondering if the 3 sex items listed were recently purchased (DM bought on his way there, didn't someone say there was a CVS right there near the hotel?). if that's true, he must have been planning a hook-up. Another thought I had, thanks to JLSChook, is I don't see him calling his wife and saying he'd be home in an hour if he was waiting on a SW - as another noted, they are notoriously tardy. This makes me think he had already had the encounter, and wanted that hour to shower, throw away items, and prepare to go home. Could someone have waited until his hook-up left, then went in and killed him? If so, who would be the only person who would be that mad at him? Don't really want to go there, but isn't it unusual for a SW to do this? Why not just "dash and cash" as Tutti told us sometimes happens?? I'm thinking real hatred, and planning here. Either way, so so sad.

 

[Dockins]

There are some cultures where bringing shame upon the family is almost unforgivable. This would be a way to do that in some eyes.

 

[TTF14]

One of the obituary comments is from the "LGBT community" in Cincinatti. That's either a highly insensitive comment to make on someone's obituary if the person is not out, or could be pretty telling.

 

[bflocket]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm having trouble understanding how this "meet up" was communicated.

If arrangements were made to meet someone at the hotel, whether a lover, a sex worker, a masseuse/masseur, etc., DM would have to communicate the room # to them in some way. He wouldn't know the room # until after he checked in. So unless that person was waiting for him at the hotel, he would have to call or text them.

Someone earlier suggested that a hotel worker might have a side business of procuring sex workers for customers - that could also explain how the room # was communicated.

If this were some kind of set up to kill DM, how was he convinced to check into a hotel room?

I think I said this earlier, but one of the main draws of Grind'r (etc) are their anonymity.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Sorry to butt in. Been reading most of the posts, but I may not be up to speed. Did anyone solve the "R" word. It looked like Rocur to me, and one option I came across was Rocuronium, a muscle relaxer (I think given intravenously and mostly for surgery? ). I know it's off the wall, but thought I would post anyway.

View attachment 69979

Not off the wall at all!!
Opens up some possibilities, IMO. Geez.

 

[fred&edna]

I'm still not certain about everything with this case, but...

A quick google search reveals many attacks (gay victims-via Grindr, BP, CL) and it's so sad. The thrill of an anonymous hookup has quite an appeal to some... it outweighs the risks.

Sexual preferences of others don't matter to me, I'd just like everyone to be safe, unharmed... and stay alive.

Some victims:
Dino Dizdarevic - PA
James Fox - OK
Dave Sero - FL
Justin Earley -OH

http://6abc.com/archive/9528414/

 

[Betty P]

I'm still not certain about everything with this case, but...

A quick google search reveals many attacks (gay victims-via Grindr, BP, CL) and it's so sad. The thrill of an anonymous hookup has quite an appeal to some... it outweighs the risks.

Sexual preferences of others don't matter to me, I'd just like everyone to be safe, unharmed... and stay alive.

Some victims:
Dino Dizdarevic - PA
James Fox - OK
Dave Sero - FL
Justin Earley -OH

http://6abc.com/archive/9528414/

The most tragic aspect of these deaths is that they usually happen to men who are still "in the closet" about their sexuality. Men in the closet have a difficult time sustaining long term relationships with other men for fear of being discovered. They're limited to pick ups.

If society were more accepting of homosexuality, if men like David were able to freely express their natural sexuality without fear of social ostracism, job loss, etc. there would be far fewer deaths and assaults.

I feel sorry for closeted gay men, its a sad life they have to live. They should be free to live their lives like anyone else, without ostracism and recriminaiton.

 

[FindHG]

The most tragic aspect of these deaths is that they usually happen to men who are still "in the closet" about their sexuality. Men in the closet have a difficult time sustaining long term relationships with other men for fear of being discovered. They're limited to pick ups.

If society were more accepting of homosexuality, if men like David were able to freely express their natural sexuality without fear of social ostracism, job loss, etc. there would be far fewer deaths and assaults.

I feel sorry for closeted gay men, its a sad life they have to live. They should be free to live their lives like anyone else, without ostracism and recriminaiton.

Great post above, with valuable insights and information, thank you WSers. I agree that it looks like a two phase murder of David, more than one person involved, not sure if more than one person may have been knowingly involved in the murder, but they are now. Seems to me, well planned (no arrest yet), poorly executed only because of the broken elevator, otherwise the face may have been a mystery.

 

[HastingsChi]

David could have been catfished though. The person in the video wouldn't necessarily have been the "picture" he saw online. (IF it transpired that way at all.)

The problem I have with this POI is that, if she was invited by David, I would think he would have told her about the elevator being out of order, or on a normal day--it would need a key card. She went to the elevator first.

If DM told the person that was coming that they would need a keycard OR that the elevator was out, she wouldn't have went straight to the elevator either way. I hope that makes sense.

I also don't see DM texting his wife and saying "I'll be home in an hour" if the person he was having the 'tryst' with, wasn't even there yet.

Sometimes I think that this was a team. The one had already gone to the room and left and maybe while DM was in the shower, he/she left the key card (or door ajar) for the POI to get in. Otherwise, the timing doesn't make sense.

This case drives me nuts! :gaah:

Are we certain that the elevator was actually out of order or required a key card to activate?

The third time I viewed the video I got the impression that the individual got in and out of the elevator because they didn't want to be recorded on the elevator camera which would also establish which floor the individual got off the elevator. I don't think the individual anticipated security cameras in the stairwell.

Regarding the alleged SMS exchange, I think both husband and wife could have reason to establish timing: His reason is to avoid her calling/texting when he's not home on time and her reason, if by chance she's involved in orchestrating things, is to show normalcy and have documentation of his disappearance.

I'm very interested in viewing the security camera footage of:
David's arrival at the Donavan.
The individual's departure from the Donavan.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Sorry to butt in. Been reading most of the posts, but I may not be up to speed. Did anyone solve the "R" word. It looked like Rocur to me, and one option I came across was Rocuronium, a muscle relaxer (I think given intravenously and mostly for surgery? ). I know it's off the wall, but thought I would post anyway.

View attachment 69979

Rocoronium is available in topical (i believe gel) form. From what I understand it is mostly used for veterinary purposes. IMO

 

[HastingsChi]

Just a few thoughts (and kudos to all posting here, really making insightful comments). I am wondering if the 3 sex items listed were recently purchased (DM bought on his way there, didn't someone say there was a CVS right there near the hotel?). if that's true, he must have been planning a hook-up. Another thought I had, thanks to JLSChook, is I don't see him calling his wife and saying he'd be home in an hour if he was waiting on a SW - as another noted, they are notoriously tardy. This makes me think he had already had the encounter, and wanted that hour to shower, throw away items, and prepare to go home. Could someone have waited until his hook-up left, then went in and killed him? If so, who would be the only person who would be that mad at him? Don't really want to go there, but isn't it unusual for a SW to do this? Why not just "dash and cash" as Tutti told us sometimes happens?? I'm thinking real hatred, and planning here. Either way, so so sad.

There is a CVS about 25 feet from the entrance to the Donavan. There are about 12 other CVS stores in the circa 10 block route walking from David's office to the Donavan.

Having been to the Thomas Circle CVS I can tell you it's full of families of tourists during the day and someone trying to be discreet would likely go to one of the other 10 CVS stores on the way to the Donavan to buy intimate personal items when it's not late at night.

Regarding the Sex Worker thing:

About 10-15 years ago Thomas Circle was an area that you could find girls working the corner at night, I know this because when I hosted a radio show in DC that's where we went several times at night to do man on the street interviews with some of the most interesting characters you'd ever come across. It was DC's finest who introduced me to the pimp we interviewed and separately the prostitute we interviewed.

Since that industry has moved to the internet, there is a disconnect of the familiarity that beat officers had with the folks working the street and the characters that make up the virtual corners online. However the DC police is likely even more familiar than ever with the folks working the virtual corner because the unit focused on it is one of the best in the nation.

Therefore, if the individual was a sex worker of any type they would already have been identified by law enforcement simply because they would have found an individual on known escort sites, backpage or Craigslist whose image is similar or shares the characteristics of the person in the video. Remember, just because you delete your ad doesn't mean it can't still be accessed.

Therefore I highly doubt the individual is a sex worker or they would already have identified a suspect.

 

[FindHG]

Are we certain that the elevator was actually out of order or required a key card to activate?

The third time I viewed the video I got the impression that the individual got in and out of the elevator because they didn't want to be recorded on the elevator camera which would also establish which floor the individual got off the elevator. I don't think the individual anticipated security cameras in the stairwell.

Regarding the alleged SMS exchange, I think both husband and wife could have reason to establish timing: His reason is to avoid her calling/texting when he's not home on time and her reason, if by chance she's involved in orchestrating things, is to show normalcy and have documentation of his disappearance.

I'm very interested in viewing the security camera footage of:
David's arrival at the Donavan.
The individual's departure from the Donavan.

It was reported, and sounded pretty confirmed by the hotel manager, not sure about LE, in MSM that the elevator was out of order that day. So if it was collusion, the only electronic signal so far that is public is the early all good call on Monday with the wife, as they may have been apart all Sunday, sounded like it was made prior to the 5:30 pm check-in at the hotel, and then there is that last home in an hour text 7:34 pm, that the wife drew concern from to call LE around midnight. LE may have traced him over-night, probably waited to see if he may have been checking out in the morning, then asked the hotel to do the welfare check, sounds like, by around 11 am it was known, check out time.

 

[FindHG]

There is a CVS about 25 feet from the entrance to the Donavan. There are about 12 other CVS stores in the circa 10 block route walking from David's office to the Donavan.

Having been to the Thomas Circle CVS I can tell you it's full of families of tourists during the day and someone trying to be discreet would likely go to one of the other 10 CVS stores on the way to the Donavan to buy intimate personal items when it's not late at night.

Regarding the Sex Worker thing:

About 10-15 years ago Thomas Circle was an area that you could find girls working the corner at night, I know this because when I hosted a radio show in DC that's where we went several times at night to do man on the street interviews with some of the most interesting characters you'd ever come across. It was DC's finest who introduced me to the pimp we interviewed and separately the prostitute we interviewed.

Since that industry has moved to the internet, there is a disconnect of the familiarity that beat officers had with the folks working the street and the characters that make up the virtual corners online. However the DC police is likely even more familiar than ever with the folks working the virtual corner because the unit focused on it is one of the best in the nation.

Therefore, if the individual was a sex worker of any type they would already have been identified by law enforcement simply because they would have found an individual on known escort sites, backpage or Craigslist whose image is similar or shares the characteristics of the person in the video. Remember, just because you delete your ad doesn't mean it can't still be accessed.

Therefore I highly doubt the individual is a sex worker or they would already have identified a suspect.

Enemas and lubricant have batch numbers, so LE could probably track the distribution and locate where they were purchased. LE would also have video of exactly how the POI entered the room and who may have been there before. The only person reported to have been questioned is a woman. So I'm thinking it may well have been a women there with David before 7:34 pm text home. Depending on how long it would have taken him to get home, or if he really had any intention to get home, at this point, the text could have either been cover or a signal, depending on who is involved, or just a text before he hit the shower, to make his way home.

David Messerschmitt, was a smart guy, seems much loved, befriended, and honored in loss. I think he thought he was safe when he checked into the hotel to meet somebody, if that is what he did at all. He may have not been so discrete that he couldn't be traced in hours, so not so concerned about discovery. Indeed, if he did send the text, then until that time, he may have had nothing to fear, feel no danger, it seems to me.

 

[HastingsChi]

The most tragic aspect of these deaths is that they usually happen to men who are still "in the closet" about their sexuality. Men in the closet have a difficult time sustaining long term relationships with other men for fear of being discovered. They're limited to pick ups.

If society were more accepting of homosexuality, if men like David were able to freely express their natural sexuality without fear of social ostracism, job loss, etc. there would be far fewer deaths and assaults.

I feel sorry for closeted gay men, its a sad life they have to live. They should be free to live their lives like anyone else, without ostracism and recriminaiton.

Writing as an out gay man a few years older than David, I'm not convinced that this is a gay hookup gone wrong.

David grew up in the greater Cincinnati area, he attended Ohio State (which has a strong, accepting LGBT campus community and Columbus has one of my favorite gayborhoods in the US), then he attended law school at Boston University which is one of the most progressive universities in an even more socially progressive cities.

He met his wife while they were students at Ohio State. She did her post graduate studies at Case Western in Cleveland while he was at BU. They both completed their programs in 2010. In the summer of 2008 David was an associate at a firm in Chicago (close to Cleveland) and spent the fall of 2009 as a law clerk at the Cleveland Clinic while she completed her studies in Cleveland. Then in January 2010 they both accepted positions in DC. Two and a half years later they got married.

David had so many ways out of that relationship if that's what he wanted but their history indicates that they wanted to be together.

If David is gay then I am repulsed that he would lie to her for so many years and I would say he's a gutless weasel because from the time he began college he was in cities that are welcoming, diverse and pretty inclusive.

I have several older friends who came out later in life (after marriage and children) and I keenly understand that they lived in a different time and don't make judgements about what they did; however because of what they endured, those around the age of myself and David Messerschmitt who lived and worked in cities with strong LGBT communities didn't need to endure.

Based on their history as a couple and the progressive cities he called home I highly doubt he is gay.

 

[HastingsChi]

Enemas and lubricant have batch numbers, so LE could probably track the distribution and locate where they were purchased. LE would also have video of exactly how the POI entered the room and who may have been there before. The only person reported to have been questioned is a woman. So I'm thinking it may well have been a women there with David before 7:34 pm text home. Depending on how long it would have taken him to get home, or if he really had any intention to get home, at this point, the text could have either been cover or a signal, depending on who is involved, or just a text before he hit the shower, to make his way home.

David Messerschmitt, was a smart guy, seems much loved, befriended, and honored in loss. I think he thought he was safe when he checked into the hotel to meet somebody, if that is what he did at all. He may have not been so discrete that he couldn't be traced in hours, so not so concerned about discovery. Indeed, if he did send the text, then until that time, he may have had nothing to fear, feel no danger, it seems to me.

He could have drove from the Donavan to their home on the Hill in under 15 minutes traveling after 8pm on a Monday night. If he took the Metro he would have a 7 minute walk from the Donavan to the McPherson Square Metro station and a 10 minute trip on the Orange, Blue or Silver line (whichever came first) to Capitol South station and maybe a 5 minute walk to their home.

 

[FindHG]

Writing as an out gay man a few years older than David, I'm not convinced that this is a gay hookup gone wrong.

David grew up in the greater Cincinnati area, he attended Ohio State (which has a strong, accepting LGBT campus community and Columbus has one of my favorite gayborhoods in the US), then he attended law school at Boston University which is one of the most progressive universities in an even more socially progressive cities.

He met his wife while they were students at Ohio State. She did her post graduate studies at Case Western in Cleveland while he was at BU. They both completed their programs in 2010. In the summer of 2008 David was an associate at a firm in Chicago (close to Cleveland) and spent the fall of 2009 as a law clerk at the Cleveland Clinic while she completed her studies in Cleveland. Then in January 2010 they both accepted positions in DC. Two and a half years later they got married.

David had so many ways out of that relationship if that's what he wanted but their history indicates that they wanted to be together.

If David is gay then I am repulsed that he would lie to her for so many years and I would say he's a gutless weasel because from the time he began college he was in cities that are welcoming, diverse and pretty inclusive.

I have several older friends who came out later in life (after marriage and children) and I keenly understand that they lived in a different time and don't make judgements about what they did; however because of what they endured, those around the age of myself and David Messerschmitt who lived and worked in cities with strong LGBT communities didn't need to endure.

Based on their history as a couple and the progressive cities he called home I highly doubt he is gay.

Thank you, HastingChi, great of you to share this information and your thoughts on this. From the start, the setup in the room, the five stabs to the back, the timing, seemed like over-kill to me. I don't think it matters whether David was gay or not, whether he checked in the room for sex or not, the angry person who killed him and strew his stuff all over the room should be caught and see justice.

I appreciate your sharing your life experience. The feeling I get from David was the he was not a man who would betray himself, first of all. He'd have every chance and opportunity to be true to himself in life, as you well point out. From the respect he has among friends, associates and mentors, he does not seem like a man who got ahead betraying others, if anything. Hopefully LE knows more.