WHO KILLED ROBERT WONE? An Unsolved D.C. Murder
On August 2, 2006, attorney Robert Wone was found dead inside a townhouse on Swann Street in Washington, D.C. What should have been a straightforward case quickly unraveled into one of the most perplexing unsolved murders in modern true crime.
Robert had spent the evening with friends and colleagues before heading to the home of three men he trusted. Within hours, he was discovered with multiple stab wounds — yet there were no signs of forced entry, no defensive wounds, and almost no trace of blood where he was attacked. Investigators quickly realized that the crime scene appeared staged, and the timeline presented by the men inside the home didn’t make sense.
Despite years of legal battles, shifting testimonies, and intense public scrutiny, no one has ever been convicted of Robert’s murder. Instead, his death remains shrouded in secrecy, leaving behind only questions:
Why was Robert targeted? What really happened inside that townhouse? And how has this case remained unresolved for nearly two decades?
In this episode, I break down Robert’s final hours, the investigation that followed, and the haunting details that continue to disturb both investigators and the public to this day.
TW: This episode includes discussion of violent crime and potentially distressing circumstances. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Source Material
Official Reports and Investigations
Ward Affidavit. (n.d.). Court affidavit – Who Murdered Robert Wone archive
Superseding Indictment Alleges Conspiracy in Wone Case. (n.d.). Court filing – Who Murdered Robert Wone archive
Obstruction Charges Filed in ’06 Dupont Circle Slaying. (n.d.). Court record – Who Murdered Robert Wone archive
3 Indicted in Alleged Coverup of D.C. Killing. (n.d.). Court record – Who Murdered Robert Wone archive
Articles
ABC News. “Police Allege Coverup in Lawyer’s 2006 Murder.” ABCNews.go.com, November 21, 2008
Chibbaro, Lou Jr. “10 Years Later, Wone Murder Remains a Mystery.” Washington Blade, August 10, 2016
Chibbaro, Lou Jr. “Wone Case Defendants: Where Are They Now?” Washington Blade, August 19, 2016
Eshleman, Teresa. “Remembering Robert Wone ’96.” William & Mary Alumni Magazine, Fall 2023
Jaffe, Harry. “Robert Wone: Life, Death, and Love.” Washingtonian, April 20, 2010
NBC4 Washington. “‘I Didn’t Feel His Crying Was Real.’” NBC Washington (n.d.)
Smith, Rend. “The Secret Sex Toys of the Robert Wone Trial.” Washington City Paper, June 11, 2010
Washington Blade. “Wone Hearing to Discuss SM Devices.” March 8, 2010
Washington Blade. “Sexual Assault May Be Dropped in Wone Murder Case.” March 13, 2010
Washington Post. “Obstruction Case Pursued in Wone Killing.” February 17, 2010
Documentaries
The Robert Wone Stabbing: Anatomy of a Murder Case. (n.d.). [Film/television special; archival availability varies].
Podcasts
The Consult: Real FBI Profilers – The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone – Part 1 (April 3, 2024)
The Consult: Real FBI Profilers – The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone – Part 3 (April 17, 2024)
Fox 5 DC Missing Pieces – The Mystery on Swann Street Podcast Series (2019, 7 episodes)
Websites
(Includes posts: “Miller v. Jenkins: One Gay Couple’s Custody Battle,” “Killer Targeted Lawyer, Police Say,” “Police Say Crime Scene Was Altered,” “A New Glimpse into Night of D.C. Slaying,” “Robert Wone Blackberry Mystery Continues,” and others.)
