“We Know That We Have Our Murderer”

The person of interest in two separate double homicides involving nurses and their daughters may be linked to other crimes, according to investigators.

Karen Lofton and her daughter, 16-year-old Karissa, were found dead in their Largo home in January 2009. The bodies of Delores DeWitt and her daughter, 19-year-old Ebony, were found in March 2009 in a burning car about a mile away from where the Loftons lived.

The person of interest is already in jail on an unrelated charges of illegal weapons trafficking, carjacking and sexual exploitation.

"We call this person a 'person of interest' just because of legal reasons, but we know that we have our murderer," said Prince George's County Police Chief Roberto Hylton.

Hylton said there may be many more victims.

The investigation of the unrelated charges led investigators to make connections to the Lofton and DeWitt double homicides. An important lead came from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Hylton told the Associated Press. The ATF apprehended the man after an undercover investigation and a July 1, 2009, raid on his home in the same Largo neighborhood where the women and their daughters were found dead. He allegedly had been illegally selling guns, including machine guns and assault rifles, many of which had been stolen from JC Arms.

The chief described the man as well-educated and methodical in his killing. He tampered with the crime scenes to throw off police, Hylton said.

Police believe there are actually five homicide victims, Hylton said. He expects law enforcement authorities from other jurisdictions to start looking into the activities of the person of interest. More indictments could be coming in a matter of days.
 


Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us