WASHINGTON — D.C. Police say they want the public’s help to further investigate the murder of a 30-year-old lawyer in a downtown hotel.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says detectives have found an email address they believe David Messerschmitt used to communicate with the woman charged in his murder, 21-year-old Jamyra Gallmon.
Gallmon made her initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court Thursday afternoon and plead not guilty, claiming self-defense.
“We want to put that email address out today to see if there’s anybody else who may recognize that email address,” Lanier says.
Finding anyone who may have had similar contact using the email address will help in the investigation, Lanier says.
According to court records, Gallmon used the email chrissanchez0906@yahoo.com.
Gallmon is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the stabbing death of Messerschmitt, who was found on the fourth floor of the Donovan Hotel on Feb. 10.
Homicide detectives arrested Gallmon and charged her Wednesday afternoon.
In court records, police confirmed that Gallmon was the person of interest seen wearing a dark hooded coat in surveillance images taken from the hotel and publicly released early in the investigation.
Gallmon attended Forestville Military Academy, played basketball at Forestville High School and lived in Southeast D.C.
She was in D.C. Superior Court as recently as the end of March settling a landlord and tenant breach.
Messerschmitt’s wife, Kim Vuong, released a statement after the charges were announced.
“I would like to thank the Metropolitan Police Department for their hard work and continued diligence. I have faith that the police and the courts will bring justice to David and all who loved him,” Vuong said in an emailed statement.
