A Virginia woman was killed Friday after a man entered a Washington, D.C., hotel room and stabbed her more than 20 times, police and court documents say.
Christy Bautista, 31, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was visiting the District for a concert, her family said. She was brutally attacked less than an hour after checking into the Ivy City Hotel on New York Avenue NE, according to court documents and police.
The suspect, George Sydnor Jr., 43, was found inside the hotel room with blood on his hands and clothing, according to court documents.
Sydnor was taken into police custody on the day of the attack and charged with first-degree murder. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty in court, and a judge ordered he be held without bond.
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The court documents, released Monday, shed light on how the horrifying attack unfolded.
Bautista checked into the hotel about 5:55 p.m., and parked in directly in front of the door to room 116, the court documents said.
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Sydnor was seen on security camera footage riding a red bike to the hotel parking lot about 6:45 p.m., then listening at the door to room 116, court documents say.
Moments later, Sydnor was seen stepping into the hotel room, and security cameras captured the sounds of a possible struggle, court documents say.
A witness reported seeing a distressed female open the hotel room door and yell for help before a male pulled her back inside. That witness called 911. They were not named in court documents.
Bautista was heard yelling, “Help! Help!” in security footage before a door slammed closed, according to court documents.
D.C. police officers arrived about 10 minutes later and knocked on the door. After initial silence, a man said everything is fine, according to court documents.
After an officer saw a man’s bloody hand through the partially closed blinds, police obtained the hotel’s master key and entered the room about 7 p.m., the court documents said.
Bautista was on the floor with stab wounds. Sydnor was inside the room, trying to light a cigarette, court documents said.
Bautista showed no signs of life when D.C. Fire and EMS arrived. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:11 p.m., court documents say.
A large kitchen knife with half the blade broken off was found on one of the hotel room beds, next to a jacket Sydnor had been seen wearing. The broken section of the blade was found in one of the jacket’s pockets, according to court documents.
Authorities took Sydnor to a hospital for treatment of lacerations on his hands. Later, he was taken to be questioned and processed by police.
In the interview room, officers saw blood on his shoes, pants and vest. Police seized the clothing as evidence, according to court documents.
The D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office found Bautista had approximately 30 sharp force injuries, mostly to her back. Her death was ruled a homicide, according to the court documents.
“Our family is devastated by the loss of our beloved Christy," Bautista's family said in a statement. "She brought joy to everybody who knew her and was a shining light in all of our lives.”
News4 reached out to the Ivy City Hotel for comment but has not yet heard back.
Just down the street from the hotel, City Winery closed earlier this year, citing crime and safety concerns.
Stabbing Suspect Had Lengthy Criminal Record
Court records show he had been arrested many times before, including this past October for armed robbery.
A D.C. judge denied him bond in December, writing that Sydnor’s criminal history indicated he would pose a significant danger to the community.
Yet a different judge released Sydnor from jail less than two weeks later. He then failed to appear for a court hearing just eight days later.
He’s wanted in Maryland on other charges and is set to have an extradition hearing next month.
At the time of the attack, Sydnor was wanted on two arrest warrants for allegedly failing to appear in court on an attempted robbery charge in D.C. and a theft case in Prince George’s County.
Bautista's family told News4 they don’t believe she and the suspect knew each other.
Sydnor is due back in court on May 8.
In court Monday, Sydnor's attorney objected to the charges, noting that an initial 911 caller reported the possibility of two attackers. The judge sided with the government, which said Sydnor being found covered in blood in the room with the victim was probable cause.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.
