Chandra Levy Murder: Jury Brings in Guilty Verdict

By Tanya Roth, Esq. on November 22, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Almost a decade after the disappearance of Chandra Levy tore apart the lives of her family, and that of Congressman Gary Condit who was linked to the intern, a jury has delivered a guilty verdict for her murder. After more than three days of deliberation, a jury found Ingmar Guandique guilty on two counts of first-degree murder.

Judge Gerald Fisher extended his sympathies to Susan Levy, the mother of the victim, before the verdict was read, reports CNN. Jurors, who wiped away tears, were individually polled to ensure it was a unanimous verdict.

This was a difficult case for prosecutors as Chandra Levy's body was not found in Washington's Rock Creek Park until almost a year after she was killed, eliminating much of the forensic evidence. However, this is one case where circumstantial evidence was enough to convict the defendant.

No eyewitness testimony nor any DNA evidence was available to prosecutors. There was also no murder weapon and the link between Levy and Conduit continually led authorities up the wrong path.

But prosecutors were able to piece together a convincing story for the jury. The prosecution's cased included what they painted as a confession made by Guandique in statements to cellmates and in letters to a woman who was a pen pal, reports CNN. Confessions to other inmates are often attacked by defense attorneys since the inmates have much to gain by helping authorities with a case. So possibly more convincing, were the similar crimes committed by the defendant. Guandique was already serving time for two other attacks made on women in Rock Creek Park when he made the confession to another inmate in 2006, reports The Washington Post. The two other female joggers who were attacked by Guandique testified at the trial.

For the murder of young Washington intern, Guandique faces life without parole, reports CNN. At the time of her death, Chandra Levy was 24.

Related Resources:

Guilty verdict in Chandra Levy murder case (MSNBC)
Murder: First Degree (FindLaw)
DNA Evidence: It's in Your Genes (FindLaw)
The Tragic Mis-Invesitgation of Chandra Levy's Disappearance (FindLaw's Writ)