Two women have pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a D.C. lawyer inside a upscale hotel.
Jamyra Gallmon and Dominique Johnson entered the plea in court Thursday morning.
Gallmon, of Southeast D.C., had been charged with first-degree felony murder while armed in the death of 30-year-old David Messerschmit, who was found stabbed to death at the Donovan Hotel in February. She pleaded guilty to second-degree felony murder while armed.
Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
Messerschmit's widow was present in court Thursday. She broke into tears as descriptions of the wounds found on her husband's body were read aloud.
Gallmon and Johnson were arrested separately, weeks after the crime. Authorities said Gallmon was captured on hotel surveillance video released shortly after the stabbing, showing someone walking into the hotel around 7:40 p.m. that night. She pressed an elevator button, but then took the stairs, slowly covering up her face as time went on.
Authorities said they identified Gallmon through online and cellphone records.
Gallmon told authorities she went to the hotel intending to rob Messerschmit after he posted on Craigslist on Feb. 9, seeking responses from other men. Authorities say Gallmon responded to the ad using a man's name. A charging document said Messerschmitt gave his room number at the Donovan Hotel in Thomas Circle, asking to meet between 7 and 7:30 p.m. that evening.
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Authorities say Gallmon, of Southeast D.C., admitted to stabbing Messerschmit during an altercation in his hotel room.
Gallmon allegedly told police that Messerschmitt grabbed her arm, causing her to have a "flashback" to a past assault, at which point she and the victim got into a physical altercation, and she stabbed him several times.
Messerschmit's wife reported him missing in the early-morning hours of Feb. 10. Hours later, his body was found in the hotel room.
Detectives found an HP computer, condoms, lubricant and an enema in the room, among other items.
Sources told News4 that Johnson had prior knowledge about the robbery plot, was with Gallmon before and after the homicide, and benefited from the items stolen from Messerschmitt.
The women will be sentenced Aug. 14.
Gallmon faces 18 to 25 years in prison. Johnson is subject to five years and a substantial fine.
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