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

[AgeofAquaruis]

They said that the camera was not working.

Wow. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Sandusky scandal. MOO

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Wow. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Sandusky scandal. MOO

Virtually no chance.

 

[Sweetluv]

The missing money that was in question (30, 000 i believe) ..was that ever resolved ?
Also, the money Jonathan withdrew from the ATM in Newark, DE ..was that found on him or in the car..or not at all?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The missing money that was in question (30, 000 i believe) ..was that ever resolved ?
Also, the money Jonathan withdrew from the ATM in Newark, DE ..was that found on him or in the car..or not at all?

I don't believe the missing money was resolved.

There were bills found in the car; I don't know if that was specifically linked to the ATM along I-95. I don't know that was the full amount or not. It is possible, from the time line, that JPL stopped some place and spent some money, e.g. he got something to eat at a 24 hour place.

It would have taken JPL about 60 minutes at 60 MPH to go from the ATM, cross to NJ, and get on the NJTP at Florence, NJ. It took him about an hour and 30-40 minutes. He was either driving slowly (which he wasn't earlier or later), used a much less direct route, or stopped.

I have thought that it could be possible for him stopped at a fast food place and got something to eat or some coffee. They have never released the stomach contents.

 

[Chrissymick]

Hello folks, I am still in the process of going through this discussion board to see what has been said so far, but just wanted to introduce myself. I recently discovered this case while listening to old episodes of Crime Junkie. It caught my attention as soon as I heard that the victim was a Baltimore attorney that died mysteriously in 2003. My dad was an attorney in Baltimore for many years, and was working there in 2003. After the episode, I did what any true crime lover would, and texted my dad to ask if he was familiar with the case. I assumed he'd have at least heard of it given his history of involvement in Baltimore's legal community. Well, not only has he heard of it. He was one of the other attorneys working on the trial that Luna was prosecuting when he died in 2003. He has agreed to sit down with me to talk about his memories of Jonathan Luna and his death. He says he had worked on a few cases with Luna before his sudden passing and remembers him as "a very nice guy". He was in the court room on December 4, 2003 when Luna failed to appear and was reported missing. I do not know if he was present at the meeting on December 5 that was reported as Luna's last location before he began the baffling road trip that ended in his death, but I intend to find out. If he wasn't in the meeting himself, I do believe he could give me the names of the people who were. I can't guarantee I'll be able to uncover anything we didn't know before, but I figure it can't to give it a try. Looks to me like this case really does just need some more attention and for the right person to start talking.

Any updates?

Was your father representing a defendant in the Smith/Poindexter cases?

 

[Chrissymick]

The missing money that was in question (30, 000 i believe) ..was that ever resolved ?
Also, the money Jonathan withdrew from the ATM in Newark, DE ..was that found on him or in the car..or not at all?

The missing money was not located. About $30 was around him but not clear if that was from the $200. I believe his wallet was missing and never recovered

 

[Richrd]

.

8 November 2024 Release of New Movie:
"The Midnight Ride of Jonathan Luna"

Prosecutor Jonathan Luna's death explored in Red Rose Film Festival movie

The death of Baltimore federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna, whose body was found in a remote area in northern Lancaster County nearly 21 years ago, is the subject of a documentary

lancasteronline.com

.

 

[acehard]

.

8 November 2024 Release of New Movie:
"The Midnight Ride of Jonathan Luna"

Prosecutor Jonathan Luna's death explored in Red Rose Film Festival movie

The death of Baltimore federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna, whose body was found in a remote area in northern Lancaster County nearly 21 years ago, is the subject of a documentary

lancasteronline.com

.

Cohen also said the movie is not about making money.
“Because it’s funded as a kind of nonprofit enterprise, our objective is to … get an investigation,” Cohen said.
Though the movie is faithful to the book, Cohen said they were able to get people to talk with many of the players in the investigation, including a former colleague of Luna’s, a federal judge and a former Pennsylvania State Police commissioner.
------
Good on them. I want to see this.

 

[Sweetluv]

If Jonathan stopped and got gas as well as a trip to Newark, DE to withdraw money from an ATM machine, I would think there was camera footage (?) When you use an ATM machine, they snap your picture..anyone with him?
Gas stations usually have cameras...

 

[Sweetluv]

December 4, 2003..
Remembering Jonathan today!

 

[ilovewings]

He was stabbed 36 times and his throat was slit and they called that a suicide- it is now being called a homicide according to that private investigator. There are so many mysterious and unknown aspects of this case. I am sure there are people, high up in law enforcement who have a pretty good idea what happened to Mr. Luna but for some reason, no one is allowed to talk. That is my opinion.

 

[cutter99]

20 years. Such a shame! Thinking of his wife and children tonight!

 

[Kori17]

20 years. Such a shame! Thinking of his wife and children tonight!

This case continues to break my

 

[Sweetluv]

Was the car ever fingerprinted? I can't imagine it wasn't, but what were the results?
Blood in the car...backseat only?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Was the car ever fingerprinted? I can't imagine it wasn't, but what were the results?
Blood in the car...backseat only?

IIRC, yes.

 

[azure]

Do we know why Jonathan was in so much debt?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Do we know why Jonathan was in so much debt?

I think it was credit card bills. What they were for, IDK, but it would likely be something legal.

 

[azure]

I think it was credit card bills. What they were for, IDK, but it would likely be something legal.

Yes, I've seen 25k in credit card bills. I imagine Jonathan made a reasonably good salary. The fact that he was hiding some of the credit cards from his wife suggests that he had a vice of some sort.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Yes, I've seen 25k in credit card bills. I imagine Jonathan made a reasonably good salary. The fact that he was hiding some of the credit cards from his wife suggests that he had a vice of some sort.

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.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/jonathan-luna-maryland-prosecutor-found-dead-in-another-state#gid=ci02ddd95590042554&pid=jonathan-luna-maryland-prosecutor-found-dead-in-another-state-MjA2NTYwMTE4OTAzNDE2MTQ4

An interesting article. I do subscribe to the faked kidnapping/fake assault theory.