Woman Arrested in Murder of D.C. Lawyer in Donovan Hotel

D.C. police arrested a woman in the murder of a lawyer found stabbed to death in an upscale District hotel room.

Jamyra Gallmon, 21, of Southeast D.C., was charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department announced.

Gallmon was arrested about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Gallmon's arrest comes a week after David J. Messerschmit's wife, Kim Vuong, pleaded tearfully for help finding his killer. On Thursday, Vuong released a statement thanking the Metropolitan Police Department for their hard work.

"I have faith that the police and the courts will bring justice to David and all who loved him," Vuong's statement continued.

Messerschmitt had gone to work Feb. 7 at his Chinatown law firm, sources told News4. His wife reported him missing about 2 a.m. Feb. 10.

Just hours later, his body was found inside a room at the Donovan Hotel in Thomas Circle.

According to a search warrant, Messerschmitt, 30, was found laying on the floor with stab wounds to his back. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Detectives found a wallet with "various credit cards strewed about" by Messerschmitt's head. More credit cards and documents were found throughout the room.

According to the search warrant, detectives also found an HP computer, condoms, lubricant and an enema in the room, among other items.

Shortly after the stabbing, police released video of a "person of interest" seen walking around the hotel around 7:40 p.m. the night before Messerschmitt's body was found.

That person hit the elevator button but then decided to take the stairs, slowly covering up her face as time goes on.

Police told News4 Wednesday Gallmon is the woman in that video.

She went to the hotel for a sexual encounter, sources told News4.

Her mother said Gallmon has never been in trouble before and planned to join the military.

"My husband was the gentlest and kindest hearted person I knew," Vuong said in her public statement last week. "He worked hard at everything. He was a brilliant lawyer who people trusted. He was deeply dedicated to his family and spent a great deal of his time traveling to be with them. His nieces and nephews adored him and loved to run around and play with their Uncle David.

"He was also the most dependable friend. David’s friends knew he was always there for them. David always put his friends and family first, because they were the most important things in his life."

Stay with News4 and NBC Washington for more on this developing story.

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