S4 Ep24: This is Not a Game of Clue: The Murder of Robert Wone
Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan
Deep Dive
Who was Robert Wone and what was his profession?
Robert Wone was a 32-year-old lawyer who worked as general counsel for Radio Free Asia. He was well-liked and had a successful career, having graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School with honors.
When and where did Robert Wone die?
Robert Wone died on the evening of August 2nd, 2006, at a friend's house in the DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He was found stabbed in the chest in a guest room.
Who were the three men living in the house where Robert Wone was murdered?
The three men living in the house were Joe Price, his husband Victor Zaborski, and Joe's boyfriend Dylan Ward. They all claimed to have no knowledge of who killed Robert.
What were the key inconsistencies in the accounts of Joe, Victor, and Dylan?
The men claimed an intruder killed Robert, but there were inconsistencies such as the lack of blood at the scene, the timing of their showers, and the missing murder weapon. They also gave conflicting accounts of hearing a scream or grunt and the sequence of events.
What was the significance of the knife found at the scene?
The knife found on the bedside table had white fibers from a towel with blood on it, but no fibers from Robert's shirt. The knife was also missing the expected amount of blood for a murder weapon, suggesting it may have been staged.
What was the outcome of the trial for Joe, Victor, and Dylan?
The three men were found not guilty of obstruction and conspiracy to cover up a murder due to lack of conclusive evidence. They were acquitted in a bench trial without a jury.
What was the role of BDSM in the investigation?
Dylan Ward had a collection of BDSM tools, including an electro stim machine, which was mentioned during the trial. However, there was no evidence linking these tools to the murder, and the judge ultimately excluded this evidence from the case.
What happened to the missing blood from Robert Wone's body?
Robert Wone had lost two-thirds of his blood volume, but the blood was not found at the scene. The lack of blood on the bed and towels suggested the scene had been cleaned up, but the blood's whereabouts remained a mystery.
What was the final verdict in the civil lawsuit filed by Robert Wone's widow?
Kathy Wone, Robert's widow, settled the wrongful death lawsuit against Joe, Victor, and Dylan for an undisclosed amount. She intended to distribute the money to organizations important to Robert.
What was the general public's theory about the murder?
Many believed that Dylan Ward was responsible for the murder, possibly using a syringe to incapacitate Robert before stabbing him. However, without concrete evidence, the case remains unsolved.
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