Who Killed Chandra Levy?

The Washington Post ^ | July 14, 2008 | Sari Horwitz, Scott Higham and Sylvia Moreno

[RDTF]

-snip-

The Chandra Levy case is the most famous unsolved murder in modern Washington, a mystery involving sex, power and secrets. At its center is a vivacious young intern who had crossed paths with a handsome, married congressman. The story triggered months of feverish worldwide media attention in 2001, before the Sept. 11 attacks shoved it aside and the investigation stalled.

The Washington Post spent a year reconstructing the disappearance of Chandra Levy and the investigation into her death. Reporters interviewed police officials, investigators and suspects, many for the first time, and obtained details about dozens of previously unknown private conversations and events, including former Rep. Gary Condit's first interview with the newspaper in seven years.

The Post's examination of the case will unfold in a 12-chapter serial and epilogue in print and online. The serial will show how the sensational nature of the media coverage quickly overwhelmed the investigation. It will expose the fleeting acts that later loomed large and will reveal undisclosed clues, meaningful and false: a DNA swab in a dark parking lot, Chandra's last computer search, a conversation with a jailhouse informant who said he had the key to the case.

In the end, the serial will reveal how an enormous effort by the D.C. police, the FBI and prosecutors was undercut by a chain of mistakes, a misdirected focus and missed opportunities that allowed a killer to escape justice.

-snip-

[XR7]

Ah, the old Chandra Levy case. I remember that was the hottest topic in the news, followed by overaged little leaguers and shark bite until we got hit on 9-11.

Hottest topic?

Red China grounding a US Navy EP-3E airplane and holding its crew of 24 airmen hostage.

Remember? In 2001, communist China held 24 US airmen and their plane hostage on Hainan Island. It was the biggest international crisis of the newly elected President Bush's administration, and the red Chinese got away with it thanks to 911. Remember the FReeps that were going on? (For instance, in Seattle there was a FReep against COSCO at the shipyards, etc.) Did we ever hold GWB accountable? Seems 911 happened and everyone forgot about this act of war against the United States. How soon we forget.

China toughens stance over US spy plane incident

Tony Jones speaks with the ABC's Beijing correspondent, Tom O'Byrne, about the likely fate of the American crew.

---------
Compere: Tony Jones
Reporter: Tom O'Byrne

TONY JONES: So what is the likely fate of the American crew?

Tom O'Byrne is the ABC's correspondent in Beijing and he joins me now.

Tom, What's the real status of these 24 US airmen?

Are they guests or hostages?

TOM O'BYRNE: Tony, a new word has been introduced into this whole debate in the last 24 hours that's only now being confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and indeed on national television tonight here in Beijing, they are being referred to as "spies."

This is the first time we have actually heard this so directly from such high levels in the Chinese Government.

It gives an indication at least that at this stage there is still a long, long way as far as the Chinese are concerned that the Americans have to go before this is over.

TONY JONES: How is that put exactly?

How did the Foreign Ministry put that accusation that they're spies?

TOM O'BYRNE: The Chinese are saying because these crew members were aboard a military surveillance plane conducting spying activities on the Chinese border and then ultimately entering Chinese air space, and landing on Chinese territory without permission that constitutes in their view at least - this is backed up by legal opinions that are running tonight on national television in China - that that constitutes spying in their view and that that could also lead to charges...

More here: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s271913.htm

The airmen were eventually released. The cocky communist "People's Revolutionary Army" dismantled their airplane and sent it back to the US piece-by-piece.

Is it a case of collective amnesia which explains why we are all giddily going to Beijiing to play games, including President Bush himself, who will be used by red Chinese propagandists to raise communist China's status as a world power to be contended with?

[rabidralph]

Maybe you should have read yesterday's edition of the paper. Also, there's a long obit in today's edition.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

12-part series? In an election year?

This is series! Huge!

[Ann Archy]

Condidit was the happiest man alive on 9/11. Where are his brothers now? He had on that was a sheriff, i think, and one that was a FELON....so in one family you had, Law MAKER, Law BREAKER and Law ENFORCER! They were probably ALL Law BREAKERS!!

[Cacique]

btt

[Ann Archy]

What? Where is Condit living now?? How do you know? What restaurant does he work for? Where are his HIDEOUS KIDS WORKING?? Probably at the restaurant too!

[csmusaret]

If Scarborough wasn’t involved would he still be slime?

[SlapHappyPappy]

I find it odd that the mainstream media didn’t find it worth reporting that Condit had plans in place with a trusted staffer for the movement of a dead body (presumably his) from one location to another for the purpose of hiding the circumstances involving the death.

I have to say that, even without an actual death of a person close to Condit, that information should make for pretty interesting copy.

[LayoutGuru2]

Gary Condidit

[I see my hands]

That FNC long shot footage of GC's red headed girlfriend walking on a city sidewalk towards the camera: Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! Owooooo!

[geo40xyz]

Condidit

[nmh]

Thanks, I enjoyed reading it.

I still don’t see why the attention drawn to this girl. We know who did it. HE got away with it. End of story.

[Nowhere Man]

Good points, although it did happen earlier in the year and by September, it was all resolved by 9-11. I guess I should have stated that Condit was the "current ongoing story" of the day along with shark bites and overaged little leaguers. However, when Red China detained our Orion crew, I was so angry. BTW, I remember the pilot that smacked into them was named "Wong Way." I thought somebody was joking until I found out it was truly his name. I'll watch the Olympics for two reasons, supporting our athletes and wondering if Red China will pull the same thing the Germans did in Berlin of 1936. Deep down inside, I always thought it was a mistake for Nixon to go to Red China but I have to remember, we had the Cold War going on and back then, it was the "right" thing to do.

Come to think of it, it was slow news here in Pittsburgh on 9-11, the biggest story was the first "Krispy Kreme" donut shop opened and then 9-11 blew them out of the water. I remember that day blogging around, surfing for stories, having my little B&W set next to the computer going, my amateur radio going, three police scanners humming, a shortwave radio and tuning around my Patrolman SW-60 multiband radio.

[Osage Orange]

Another unfortunate result is that we now have a more liberal representative in the House who doesn't have near the political clout Condit did.

Wouldn't that last part...be a good thing?

[beckysueb]

I believe he did it, too. Chandras’ aunt said that Chandra had called her and said she had something very important to tell her but she disappeared before she could talk to her again. Pregnant, maybe? Who knows. She has been silenced forever. Condit traveled to New Jersey to toss an expensive wristwatch in a dumpster, too. Rather odd.

[Clintonfatigued]

They were managing a couple of Baskin Robbins in suburban Phoenix. Apparently, their agreement has collapsed and he has relocated.

[Balata]

bttt

[Rastus]

Pretty much.

[csmusaret]

What is wrong with Scarborough?

[rabidralph]

I don’t know either. The only thing I can think of is that she was a government intern. Back when she was missing, I heard a live radio interview with her mother on WTOP-AM 1500 in Washington, DC. I couldn’t figure out why the news anchor was using valuable air time interviewing the mother of some missing girl. There are dozens of people missing in DC at any one time. Why was 20 minutes of afternoon drivetime devoted to her? This was the weekend before Mother’s Day and she had been missing less than a week at that time, I believe.