WASHINGTON – Police are looking for a person of interest in the stabbing death of a young lawyer at a D.C. hotel.
Police released a surveillance image of the unidentified person, which was taken inside the Donovan Hotel in Thomas Circle at about 7:45 p.m. Monday.
David Messerschmitt, 30, was found dead the following morning in a room at the boutique hotel.
Police were called to the hotel located at 1155 14th Street NW and found Messerschmitt unresponsive inside a room there late Tuesday morning. They are investigating his death as a homicide.
The Metropolitan Police Department says Messerschmitt was reported missing about 24 hours before he was found dead Tuesday morning.
Messerschmitt, a native of Cincinnati, worked for DLA Piper for less than a year as a technology and commercial transactions attorney.
In a statement, company representatives say, “This is an extremely tragic situation and we send our sincere condolences to David’s family.”
Messerschmitt attended Boston University law school and passed the D.C. bar in 2012.
His family also confirmed Messerschmitt’s death.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of David, our beloved husband, son, and brother. We ask that everyone respect our privacy. We will have no further comments at this time,” a family statement reads.
Police released this surveillance video:
Police ask anyone who can identify the person in the image to call 202-727-9099.
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report.
