Retrial Granted in Death of Washington Intern Chandra Levy
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A District of Columbia judge on Thursday granted a new trial to the man convicted of killing federal intern Chandra Levy in 2001, a case that contributed to a politician’s downfall.
Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher ordered the retrial for Ingmar Guandique, 34, after prosecutors dropped their opposition to defense lawyers’ request for a new trial in the case, which had riveted the U.S. capital.
Fisher had presided over the 2010 trial that resulted in Guandique being sentenced to 60 years in prison. Defense lawyers had argued that a key witness had lied and court records showed the new trial was assigned to Judge Robert Morin.
Levy, 24, disappeared on May 1, 2001, triggering a wide search. It turned up few details about her whereabouts but brought out allegations that she had an affair with Gary Condit, then a member of the House of Representatives.
The married Condit, a Democrat representing California, acknowledged having a “close relationship” with Levy but maintained he had nothing to do with her disappearance or death.
Despite never being named a suspect, media coverage of the investigation contributed to Condit’s re-election loss in 2002.
Levy’s remains were found in Washington’s Rock Creek Park a year after she disappeared. In 2009 police charged Guandique, who was already imprisoned for attacking women in the same area Levy went missing.
Police came under criticism for a number of missteps early in the investigation, including initially focusing on Condit rather than Guandique.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
