Rontarus Washington Jr. case

Crime & Courts June 9, 2021

Rontarus Washington Jr.’s attorney on podcast: Hopeful to convince DA that case isn’t a ‘sound prosecution’

An attorney who has signed on to the long-pending Rontarus Washington Jr. case said on a podcast released Wednesday that he had to apologize to his wife for taking another case in Kansas: “There’s no way I’m letting this go.”

Crime & Courts May 4, 2021

Retrial for Rontarus Washington Jr. could come in 2022; alternative suspect won’t be charged in alleged sex crime

by Mackenzie Clark

Rontarus Washington Jr. appeared in court with one of his new Innocence Project defense attorneys Tuesday afternoon, and two others appeared via Zoom. Meanwhile, the Franklin County attorney says he will not prosecute the defense’s alternative suspect in an alleged sex crime attempt.

Crime & Courts April 20, 2021

Rontarus Washington Jr. to be represented by Innocence Project, attorney tells judge

by Mackenzie Clark

Rontarus Washington Jr.’s longtime defense counsel has withdrawn from the case, but it seems they’ll be replaced by the Midwest Innocence Project plus one of the two attorneys who recently argued — successfully — that Albert Wilson should get a new trial.

Crime & Courts April 7, 2021

Decision on Rontarus Washington Jr.’s defense attorneys still pending; state files motion to hold them in civil contempt

by Mackenzie Clark

Updated at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, to add background: A judge refrained from ruling […]

Crime & Courts April 6, 2021

Alonzo Brooks’ death was a homicide, FBI confirms; ex-coroner for Douglas County had ruled cause undetermined

by Mackenzie Clark

Testimony of the embattled former coroner for Douglas County will likely face further scrutiny as a 2004 cold case has been determined to be a homicide.

Crime & Courts March 25, 2021

Defense counsel will stay on Rontarus Washington Jr. case, for now

by Mackenzie Clark

Rontarus Washington Jr.’s defense attorneys withdrew from the long-pending case Thursday — but within an […]

Crime & Courts March 18, 2021

Rontarus Washington Jr.’s defense team requests to withdraw, but first alleges prosecutorial bias

by Mackenzie Clark

Defense counsel for Rontarus Washington Jr. has requested to withdraw from the case, but just prior, the team filed an additional motion pushing for the case to be dismissed.