MD MD - Jonathan Luna, 38, Baltimore, 4 December 2003

[azure]

A vice, possibly, but nothing illegal. JPL would not be buying illegal drugs or prostitutes with a Visa Card.

His wife was an OBGYN, so I expect very high insurance rates.

Today, the average AUSA in Baltimore makes about $86 K a year: Salary That would have been about $56 K in 2003, maybe a bit less. Figure about $55 K. However, that is average and JPL had been there less than 5 years, so he might have been making less.

I have known enough prosecutors to know that a dependable salary and no office overhead are attractions for these jobs. It is not a bad salary, but it is not the kind of money you could make in private practice.

He likely wasn't paying for illegal items with his Visa, no. But he could be putting his regular expenses on the Visa and cashing out his pay to do something illegal...

 

[sunspun]

I suspect that he had pulled into the parking lot, laid down in the back seat, to have more room, and made the cuts there. When he went too deep, he got out and attempted to follow the lights to get help; he could not see the ditch where the car ended up. He got out, possibly intending to go a house that was in line of sight, but collapsed into the ditch (stream) from loss of blood. He drowned.

I realize this is a year-old post, but I just now read it and still thought I'd add my thoughts on it:
If he had done it himself and accidentally cut too deep as you theorized, I feel like the first thing he would have done is whip off his tie or jacket and make a tourniquet, before getting out of the car to go in search of help. IMO, it's pretty much universal knowledge that's what you do if you're bleeding out of control. I can't see that theory as being feasible.
Seems obvious to me he was murdered, but I know even the authorities can't seem to decide on that.

 

[sunspun]

He likely wasn't paying for illegal items with his Visa, no. But he could be putting his regular expenses on the Visa and cashing out his pay to do something illegal...

I don't think it's uncommon for a professional person with a salary to carry credit card debt of $25,000. It's not smart money management, but plenty of people do it without seeing it as a huge problem, especially not one that would lead him to think of suicide or to steal cash from the evidence locker. And his wife was an obstetrician as well, so their household income was pretty high. That amount seems normal enough to me.

 

[Sweetluv]

Just some aspects of the case that stand out to me..this was a 5 hour ordeal (11:40 pm to 5am) what was all transpiring? Jonathan had 36 wounds..from his own pocket knife. Wikipedia states they were to his chest and neck AND that he had a head injury. There was a second blood type and a partial print.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I realize this is a year-old post, but I just now read it and still thought I'd add my thoughts on it:
If he had done it himself and accidentally cut too deep as you theorized, I feel like the first thing he would have done is whip off his tie or jacket and make a tourniquet, before getting out of the car to go in search of help. IMO, it's pretty much universal knowledge that's what you do if you're bleeding out of control. I can't see that theory as being feasible.
Seems obvious to me he was murdered, but I know even the authorities can't seem to decide on that.

The wound was on his neck. A tourniquet would have cut off his airflow.

 

[Sweetluv]

Does anyone have information on the head injury?
(According to Wikipedia)

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Does anyone have information on the head injury?
(According to Wikipedia)

No, other than that he had one. One possibility is that he had that, and a groin bruising by banging into the car and stumbling into the creek. The "creek" is basically a drainage ditch that constantly has a small amount of water in it.

There was no evidence that he was restrained.

 

[Kori17]

Jonathan Luna will never be forgotten by those who care. I’m still hopeful that in God’s time we will have an answer and his soul can finally rest in peace.

 

[sds71]

@justin_fenton

New: Nearly six years after having them sealed, Pennsylvania prosecutors drop opposition to the release of autopsy records in the 2003 death of Maryland federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna

DA asks judge to lift seal on federal prosecutor's autopsy records of Jonathan Luna

Nearly six years after having them sealed, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has dropped opposition to the release of autopsy records in the 2003 death of federal prosecutor Jonathan

lancasteronline.com

 

[Sweetluv]

Glad to see Jonathan Lunas case getting attention!

 

[J. J. in Phila]

@justin_fenton

New: Nearly six years after having them sealed, Pennsylvania prosecutors drop opposition to the release of autopsy records in the 2003 death of Maryland federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna

DA asks judge to lift seal on federal prosecutor's autopsy records of Jonathan Luna

Nearly six years after having them sealed, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has dropped opposition to the release of autopsy records in the 2003 death of federal prosecutor Jonathan

lancasteronline.com

This is absolutely fantastic news for those of us interested in the case.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

These will be the things I am looking for in the report:

1. The nature of the wounds. Some stabbing wounds were defined as "pinpricks," by the first coroner; others have described them as "mutilation." Where were the bruises?

2. Was there any sign of JPL being restrained? Bruising on his arms? Rope burns? Slight tears on his sleeves or impressions left in the fabric?

3. Toxicology. Was he drugged? Was there any kind of chemical impairment?

4. Stomach content. Did JPL eat at some point after he left Baltimore or perhaps get something to drink?

5. Was there evidence of JPL being dressed after stabbing?

As you know, my current theory is the JPL inflicted the wounds himself, but not with the intention of suicide. I think he was trying to stage an attack, and we went too deep with one of the wounds. This coroner's report will go a long was to proving or disproving that theory.

 

[Sweetluv]

I agree with @J. J. in Phila .
I would think if someone was planning to do harm to Jonathan, they would bring their own weapon, not "hope" that Jonathan would have a pocket knife on him.
However, was someone meeting with Jonathan to discuss a situation, patted him down to ensure he wasnt carrying a weapon or wearing a wire and confiscated the pocket knife ..using it later to torture and eventually kill?
To me, this would require more than one person...especially if blood was in the back seat. And how did this person or persons leave the scene of the crime ?
How did they know Jonathan was dead..wait around? Because I believe he drowned and not from the initial stab wound to the neck...IF im correct.
Alot of unanswered questions.
The autopsy report is golden...
I hope Jonathan Luna is at peace and the family gets answers!

 

[Sweetluv]

Also, was there a 2nd set of tire tracks found at the scene?
I would also like released, camera footage from the gas station and ATM machine.
No fingerprints inside the car but Jonathan's?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Also, was there a 2nd set of tire tracks found at the scene?
I would also like released, camera footage from the gas station and ATM machine.
No fingerprints inside the car but Jonathan's?

No, but it was just off a parking lot, so tracks might not have been left.

The ATM's camera was not working.

I think his family's prints (or possibly DNA) were there.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I agree with @J. J. in Phila .
I would think if someone was planning to do harm to Jonathan, they would bring their own weapon, not "hope" that Jonathan would have a pocket knife on him.
However, was someone meeting with Jonathan to discuss a situation, patted him down to ensure he wasnt carrying a weapon or wearing a wire and confiscated the pocket knife ..using it later to torture and eventually kill?
To me, this would require more than one person...especially if blood was in the back seat. And how did this person or persons leave the scene of the crime ?
How did they know Jonathan was dead..wait around? Because I believe he drowned and not from the initial stab wound to the neck...IF im correct.
Alot of unanswered questions.
The autopsy report is golden...
I hope Jonathan Luna is at peace and the family gets answers!

You are correct; Luna did drown in what was effectively a drainage ditch. It is described as a stream, but it looks like the water many have been 6" deep. stream

To me, the key is if LPL was restrained or incapacitated prior to the stabbings. Except for certain sexual practices, or being a sacrificial victim for a cult, I cannot imagine anyone just standing there while they are stabbed 36 times, even with "pinpricks" stabbings. If he was clothed at the time, we can eliminate something sexual. There are not too many ancient Aztecs in the middle of Amish country.

If he were restrained, or incapacitated, e.g. drugged, it would be possible, even likely.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

If you go on Google maps and look up Sensenig & Weaver Well Drilling, you can get some idea of the site and the width and depth of the stream (and I use that word loosely). Brecknock Builders and Aluminum place was were not there at the time. There were one or two houses along Lauchtown Road, west of the intersection with Dry Tavern Road and I think the Church was there. At night, you could hear cars passing on the PTP and see at least the glare from their headlights; it is 1000' to 1250' feet away.

There would not be a lot of cars or trucks passing at 4:15 AM, but there is still traffic. JPL would have seen the glare from the headlights and possibly heard the traffic. IIRC it was full or nearly full moon that had risen about an hour before, so he would have seen the silhouettes of the several houses and church; though not the church, it is possible that there was outside lighting.

At least for the last 2-5 minutes of his life, this is what I what I think happened. He was in the back seat and was bleeding badly; he realized he needed help. He got out of the back seat, and got into the driver's seat, leaving blood on the door in the process. The loss of blood was affecting his ability to think. He saw the glare of headlights coming from the PTP, and possibly the silhouette of one of the houses. He started driving toward then, not being able to see the "stream." It was below the level of his car and it was dark.

He got out. In his state, he left the engine running and still was heading in the direction of the lights. He either lost consciousness due to blood loss and fell into the "stream," or he stumbled and went in.

Now, this not answer the question of if he was stabbed by someone else or if the wound was self-inflicted. If self-inflicted, at the end, JPL was trying to stay alive. If it was done by another party, JPL was still trying to stay alive.

 

[Sweetluv]

Would also like to know what prompted the coroner to declare Lunas death a homicide? Case was sealed, releasing the autopsy report would be significant.

 

[Sweetluv]

If the court is worried about releasing the autopsy report due to investigation hindering, this case has been ongoing since 2003..release it!

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Would also like to know what prompted the coroner to declare Lunas death a homicide? Case was sealed, releasing the autopsy report would be significant.

I think it was to cover up incompetence.

I would note that if my scenario that it was self inflicted, but without intent, it would be considered "accidental."