WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington D.C.’s Metro Police Department today announced the death of a 65-year-old man found inside a secured area of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital who was murdered by another patient.
Both the victim and the patient were recently transferred to the hospital from the D.C. jail for psychiatric evaluations. The hospital is a district-run facility that specializes in mental illness healthcare.
According to detectives, “At approximately 3:38 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim, inside a secure area of a hospital, unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from apparent trauma. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined that the victim displayed no signs consistent with life. The victim remained on the scene until transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.”
Hospital officials found the body of 65-year-old David Dowdell during a routine room check.
Police also stated, “On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 28-year-old Charles Lee, of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.”