By C1 Staff
WASHINGTON — Dawit Seyoum was formally indicted Monday for the murder of D.C. Deputy Director Carolyn Cross, who was killed earlier this year.
The Alexandria Times reports that Cross was found dead in her apartment on Sept. 7. Seyoum lived in the same complex as Cross.
Seyoum was arrested on the day Cross’s body was found and was held without bail until a preliminary hearing referred the case to a grand jury.
At that hearing, three police officers testified that Seyoum called 911 the afternoon Cross was murdered and said he had attempted suicide, and that he confessed to her kill because he was angry at the world.
When the officers arrived at his apartment, Seyoum was on the floor in the fetal position wearing just underwear. The words “I was the dirty one” were scrawled in blood on the wall of his shower and there were cuts on his arms.
Seyoum was arrested and charged, with one police officer testifying that Seyoum told him he might have committed a murder.
An autopsy found that cross died of blunt-force trauma to the head, smothering and strangulation. Two detectives testified that Seyoum told them of his crime in detail. They said he claimed to have followed her home and struck her over the head with a ratchet wrench.
One detective testified that Seyoum had purchased the wrench after stealing and selling his father’s guitar, after an argument with his mother. The detective added that Seyoum claimed to hear voices.
Seyoum’s next court appearance is Dec. 18, when a trial date will be selected.