Debra Kay Washington

Case record: Debra Kay Washington

Background

Debra Kay Washington was 49 at sentencing in Augusta County Circuit Court.

Washington had a history of domestic violence within her relationship with her husband, Clarence Washington. Both had prior convictions for spousal abuse.

At the time of Clarence Washington’s death, he had two pending charges of domestic violence against his estranged wife.

The court heard evidence that Washington was raped as a child. Afterward, she was in a string of abusive relationships.

A defense psychologist testified that Washington had suffered from an anxiety disorder, bouts of depression and other mental problems, while also agreeing that she fully knew the consequences of her actions.

Washington’s attorney, Thomas Weidner IV, said she also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, depression, a personality disorder and was bi-polar.

Dr. Davis Rawls, a Western State Hospital psychiatrist, said Washington also suffered from self-mutilation after the rape.

The offence

Washington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and firearms charges.

Prosecutors said Washington shot her husband six times, with the final three shots in the back of the head.

One report described the shooting as follows: Clarence Washington was shot three times in the side and his aorta was severed. His wife then shot him three more times in the back of the head.

On the day of the killing, Washington told the court she was scared he was going to get up and kill her.

Washington said: “I was scared he was going to get up and kill me”.

In testimony at sentencing, Washington explained why she shot her husband, saying: “I couldn’t take it anymore,” and adding: “He had run around on me too many times.”

Washington apologized for the slaying of her husband and said: “If I could go back and undo what happened, I would,”.

Washington said on the day of the killing that despite being recently beaten by her husband, she agreed to meet him at a local church. She said they drove toward Sherando, where they exited the vehicle and discussed his recent relationship with another woman. She said she told him she still planned to testify against him on the domestic abuse charges.

Investigation

Investigators identified a body discovered late Friday as Clarence Henry Washington, her husband.

Authorities discovered Clarence Washington’s body off Coal Road behind a campsite near Sherando. The body was partially covered with sticks and leaves. Deputies found the body around 6 p.m. near a camp site off Coal Road.

A deputy testified that the body was covered in leaves, dirt and debris near a campsite off the coal road.

One lieutenant, A.C. Powers, said: “He gave us the name of the person that was at his house that had said she had shot Henry.”

Investigators searched Washington’s car and home for evidence and talked to witnesses and family members.

Deputies said Washington never confessed to them, but they believed the clues pointed to her.

Powers explained their investigative focus, saying: “Based on the information we had all day, where the call came in from originally, her vehicle was very dusty and dirty, so several investigators, myself and the road guys decided we better start checking this area here on the coal road,”

and added: “We've already talked to some. We'll be talking to more. It's far from being over as far as the investigation,”

Powers also said: “She's got a long way to go.”

Authorities said the body was on its way to Roanoke for an autopsy.

Arrest

Washington was charged with first degree murder, gun charges, eluding police, and illegally disposing of a concealed body.

Washington had been driving a green Toyota Tercel. After a deputy spotted her in the vehicle shortly after noon near Grandview Manor just outside Waynesboro, she abandoned the car and ran away.

Deputies chased her into the Grand View subdivision after she ditched her car and ran from Augusta County deputies. She later turned herself in to Waynesboro Police.

Investigators found the body that same evening, in a wooded area along Coal Road near Sherando, and Washington was behind bars in the Middle River Regional Jail.

Washington turned herself in to police shortly after sheriff’s deputies found her husband near a camp site off Coal Road. Reports stated she led them on a short car chase and then took off on foot into Grand View subdivision, before turning herself into Waynesboro police.

One report stated Washington was expected to be in court for a bond hearing.

Trial

A preliminary hearing certified charges to a grand jury after a short advisement and subsequent court appearance.

At the preliminary hearing, a judge certified all five charges to a grand jury.

Washington faced five felony charges, including first-degree murder, two firearms counts, and concealing a body.

At an advisement hearing, the judge told Washington: “good luck”.

Defense counsel was Thomas Weidner, who handled her case.

Court records showed a long history of domestic violence between the couple. Prosecutors also said Washington bought ammo for the alleged murder weapon just one week before the shooting.

In court, evidence showed Washington was scratched and bruised as she admitted killing her husband in a struggle. A witness testified she was scratched and bruised.

Sentencing

Washington was sentenced by an Augusta County judge to serve 23 years in prison.

The judge called Clarence Washington “a very bad man.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Lee Ervin said: “These are two people that never should have been together. They fought all the time. The surprising thing is that they hadn't killed each other before this. There was fault on both sides. I think the 23-year sentence is appropriate for her,”

Washington pleaded guilty in August to charges including second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Washington also pleaded guilty to two firearms charges.

Evidence showed Washington was convicted of breaking and entering in the early 1980s.

At sentencing, Washington said: “I couldn’t take it anymore,”

and further said: “He had run around on me too many times.”

Washington told the court: “I was scared he was going to get up and kill me.”

She also said: “If I could go back and undo what happened, I would,”

Appeals

No appeal information was stated.

Outcome

Washington was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Aftermath

Washington apologized for the slaying of her husband during the sentencing proceedings.

Authorities continued the investigation, including searching her car and home for evidence and talking to additional witnesses.

Clarence Washington’s body was sent for autopsy to Roanoke.