Annette Washington

Case record: Annette Washington

Background

Annette Washington was a home-care attendant in Oceanside, Long Island, New York. She was discharged from her job in July 1986. She was 28 years old at the time described. She was a single mother with a 9-year-old son. She also supported her boyfriend’s drug habit on the side.

Edward McCarthy, a spokesman for the Bronx District Attorney, said that because the women were afraid of being robbed at home they had worked out a code of door knocks with the attendant.

The offence

Annette Washington pleaded guilty to six counts of murder in the second degree, four counts of robbery in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the second degree, four counts of burglary in the first degree, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

In two separate incidents with a male accomplice, she participated in the stabbing deaths of two elderly former patients. She denied actually doing the stabbing, but she admitted handling the knives to the male accomplice and participating in the theft of property.

Loretta O’Flaherty, age 85, was found dead in the foyer of her Bronx apartment on August 8, 1986. Her throat had been cut with two kitchen knives, according to detectives. Her apartment was ransacked.

Edna Fumasoli, age 68, was found dead in her ransacked apartment on August 22. She was stabbed 90 times.

Washington had “served” both victims as a home-care attendant. Police investigators learned that both victims had been terrified of robbery, and established a “knocking code” to let them know a friend was at the door. After quitting her job, Washington went to the women’s apartments with her accomplice and used the codes to get the victims to unlock their doors.

In a confession, Washington said that only small sums of money had been taken from the victims’ apartments and that the money had been used to buy crack, “the highly addictive and smokable form of cocaine that has been linked to thousands of crimes.”

Investigation

The Bronx District Attorney, Mario Merola, said that the police were still searching for an accomplice whose name was not released because his identity was unconfirmed.

Washington was arrested last September and held without bail. Detectives began a background search for links between the victims after similarities in the two crimes. The name of Annette Washington surfaced in due course.

Arrest

Annette Washington was arrested last September. Police secured her confession to the crimes.

Trial

Annette Washington pleaded guilty on July 6, 1987.

Sentencing

Annette Washington was sentenced by Justice Richard L. Price in the Supreme Court, Bronx County, on July 27, 1987. She received concurrent terms of:

• 20 years to life
• 8 to 24 years
• 4 to 12 years
• 8 to 24 years
• one year

Appeals

The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously affirmed the judgment. The appeal decision was rendered July 27, 1987, and the order was filed on November 16, 1989.

Counsel for the defendant submitted a brief on the appeal contending that the 20 years to life sentence was excessive, and that the court should exercise its discretion to reduce appellant’s sentence.

The court stated:

The defendant took advantage of the knowledge she gained as a home health care attendant. With a male accomplice, in two separate incidents. With a male accomplice, in two separate incidents, she was a party to the stabbing deaths of two elderly former patients. While she denied actually doing the stabbing, she admitted handling the knives to the male accomplice and participating in the theft of property.

The court also stated:

Counsel for the defendant-appellant contends that she is now contrite and had no criminal record and had waived her alleged defense of duress by the male accomplice. There is absolutely no merit to this appeal. Not only did the defendant plead in exchange for the promised sentence, but there are no extenuating circumstances. If this were a matter of first impression, we would impose a sentence of 25 to life rather than 20 to life. Order filed.

Outcome

The judgment of conviction was affirmed unanimously by the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department on November 16, 1989.

An unnamed male accomplice remained at large.

Timeline

• July 1986 — Annette Washington was discharged from her home-care attendant job.
• August 8, 1986 — Loretta O’Flaherty was found dead in the foyer of her apartment; her throat had been cut with two kitchen knives and the apartment was ransacked.
• August 22, 1986 — Edna Fumasoli was found dead in her ransacked apartment; she had been stabbed 90 times.
• mid-September 1986 — Annette Washington was arrested and secured her confession to the crimes.
• July 6, 1987 — Annette Washington pleaded guilty.
• July 27, 1987 — Justice Richard L. Price sentenced Annette Washington in Supreme Court, Bronx County.
• November 16, 1989 — The Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the judgment unanimously.

Other details

Annette Washington was described as living at 75 West 190th Street. The victims’ addresses were reported as 2910 Grand Concourse in the Bedford Park section and 3900 Greystone Avenue in Riverdale.

Edward McCarthy said Washington told police that her role was to help a man enter the victims’ apartments.

Michael Newton is named as the author/editorage reference: “Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans Home worker guilty in killing of two women By Robert D. McFadden - The New York Times July 7, 1987.”