Police arrested a 23-year-old man in the random but fatal stabbing of newly engaged tech company executive, Newly engaged Martinez, is seen [right], beaming as she showed off her new emerald and diamond sparkler just days before her brutal murder
Police have made an arrest in the fatal stabbing of a newly engaged technology company executive who was attacked while jogging in Washington DC on Tuesday evening.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the arrest of 23-year-old Anthony Crawford, of northwest DC, in the brutal killing of 35-year-old Wendy Martinez during a press conference on Thursday morning,
Chief Newsham said a combination of information received from patrol officers and tips from members of the public generated by a surveillance video helped homicide detectives track down Crawford in Girard Street Park on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old was taken in for questioning and charged this morning with first-degree murder while armed.
‘We do not have any information to suggest that Wendy knew or had any association with the suspect in this case,’ the chief of police told reporters.
‘We also do not have any information to suggest it was a robbery, so the motive in this case right now is unknown.’
Tripped by the camera: Anthony Crawford, [left], was seen on a surveillance video, while in the act of stabbing jogger Wendy Martinez, [right]
Police within hours on Tuesday night, were searching for one assailant who fled the area southbound on 11th Street.The person of interest later identified a Anthony Crawford was described as a black male wearing a mustard-colored sweatshirt that was about thigh-length, dark-colored sweatpants that were rolled up to expose part of his shins with white socks and light-colored sandals on his feet. You can see a picture and a video of him below.
Before his arrest police released this video of the suspect in the stabbing
Still from a video obtained by FOX News shows Wendy Karina Martinez, 35, dash into the restaurant as blood gushed from a laceration to her neck
Crawford has a prior criminal history in DC, but the chief declined to go into specifics, only saying his past record did not include violent offenses.
Martinez was out for an evening run near Logan Circle just before 8pm when she was attacked by a knife-wielding male stranger at the intersection of 11th and P streets.
On Wednesday, shocking footage emerged showing a mortally wounded Martinez running into a Chinese takeout store for help.
The video, obtained by Fox News, the victim dash into the restaurant as blood gushed from a laceration to her neck. While some ran away from the horrific scene, other patrons rushed to her side.
She was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Wendy Martinez was working at a DC based tech company after obtaining had a Master’s degree in Latin-American studies from Georgetown. She was murdered jogging in DC on Tuesday evening
Chief Newsham described the event as: ‘very disturbing’.
‘You have a young woman out here exercising… in a very safe neighborhood,’ he said.
‘You have a lot of people out here, who are enjoying dinner across the street. It’s unsettling.’
The Georgetown graduate had just become engaged just last week, according to her heartbroken family, with a storybook proposal and a emerald ring.
A photo from the happy occasion shows fiance Daniel Hincapie in a blue suit, down on one knee, with a ring box open as she stood beaming.
Family say she was excited to be planning her wedding to the DC bank executive.
Martinez [right], got engaged just days earlier [photo], to her fiance Daniel Hincapie, and. was already excited to be planning their wedding, according to those close to her
Police believe the attacker, described as a black man, did not know Martinez and that it was most likely a random act of violence and a ‘singular incident.’
The chief said the suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeve mustard-colored shirt, dark-colored sweatpants, white socks and light-colored sandals
Police have released surveillance video showing the person of interest casually walking in the area around the time of the deadly attack, swinging an arm.
Fox 5 DC reported that the knife used in the stabbing has been recovered at the scene of the attack. She was attacked as she waited to cross the street at the intersection of 11th and O streets.
The victim’s family released a statement after the shocking murder, describing the ‘light of our lives’ daughter who was killed. They said in party:
“We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy. Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional. Everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be. She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé, Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week.”
Vivacious looking forward to a life full of promise – Martinez worked as a chief of staff at a DC-based technology and management company
According to her LinkedIn profile, Martinez had a Master’s degree in Latin American studies and conflict resolution from Georgetown University. For the last two years, she had worked as chief of staff at the technology and management company FiscalNote.
Martinez’s employer addressed news of her violent death in a tweet sent out on Wednesday
‘The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night,’ the message read. ‘Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy’s family and friends.’
Police had offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to suspect’s arrest
Wendy Karina Martinez was stabbed multiple times around 8 p.m. Tuesday while running in the Logan Circle area of the nation’s capital.
An avid jogger who just became Martinez was stabbed to death while out on a run in Washington, DC, in an attack that police say was likely random.
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