Police arrested a man in connection with the death of a well-known art consultant from Montgomery County, Md., whose body was wrapped in a blanket and dumped in the District.
Azin Naimi, 45, traveled all over the world, restoring paintings for heads of state and Hollywood celebrities.
On Monday, her family reported her missing after she didn't return to her Rockville home. Later that day, police said they found her body in an alley in the 300 block of Farragut Street NW. Police found tire tracks near the scene. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Raymond L. Williams, 35, from the 11100 block of Dewey Road in Kensington was charged with first-degree murder, police said Wednesday.
According to charging documents, Williams confessed to stabbing Naimi with scissors and dumping her body in D.C., News4's Aaron Gilchrist reported. Naimi was found beaten and stabbed with two broken ribs and her pants down. Williams allegedly mopped the crime scene and even tried to clean the body, according to the affidavit.
Police said Naimi was killed in the space that she rented as an art studio, which is located in the 12000 block of Nebel Street in Rockville. Williams worked in the warehouse area of that building behind Naimi’s studio. He entered the studio at about 4:40 p.m. and wasn't seen again until 9 p.m., according to the affidavit. She went in at 7:30 p.m.
Naimi's mother, Mary Bazargan, said she and her daughter had lived together in North Bethesda for roughly the past 19 months. Bazargan said her daughter had opted not to visit another relative's home Sunday evening because she wanted to work on a book she was writing.
Bazargan said surveillance video shows Naimi left their home Sunday evening around 7 p.m. with only her phone and keys on her to make a quick trip to her art studio.
When Bazargan returned home later that evening, she called her daughter's phone but Naimi didn't answer. The worried mother called other family members, police and area hospitals all night, saying it was not like Naimi to not return home or let her know where she would be.
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"I knew something happened because she was very careful for me, always because of me, anywhere she goes she told me or we went together," Bazargan said.
Williams was ordered held without bond at a hearing Wednesday afternoon. He is at the Montgomery County Detention Center.
The motive for the homicide is still under investigation.
Anyone who can provide information related to the murder should call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.
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