Seth Rich Death: One Year Later

It has been one year since a Democratic National Convention committee staffer was shot and killed in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of northwest Washington.

Police said they believe Seth Rich, 27, was killed during a botched robbery, but conspiracy theorists seized on the incident as something more sinister.

Friends of Rich held a rally at the Spirit of Justice Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol, on Monday to remember Rich and possibly draw attention to his unsolved death. Rich’s family issued a statement, thanking those who have help preserved his legacy and the Metropolitan Police Department for their ongoing investigation into the shooting death.

“While we are saddened that the crime has not been solved yet, we were aware early on, this was going to be a difficult case to solve,” the family wrote in a statement. “We are grateful for the ongoing communication from the MPD, and hopeful that their continued efforts will allow the case to be solved and justice to be delivered.”

Political conspiracists have tried to tie Rich’s death to leaked DNC emails during the last presidential election, spouting theories about the reason for the shooting death. D.C. police Chief Peter Newsham said none of those theories are true.

“I can say with 100 percent certainty we don’t have anything to suggest that it was related to his employment,” the chief said.

Rich’s family has asked anyone with information about the homicide to share it with the police. They also addressed the theories.

“And while we recognize the futility of this request, we make it anyway: please cease using Seth as a political football in predetermined partisan narratives. The continual push of false and inaccurate information about Seth’s death, along with the harassment of Seth’s friends, family and co‐workers, hurts those who were closest to Seth, and does nothing to bring justice to his killers.”

Contact Us