Crime & Safety
2 DC Men Charged in Prostitute's Murder at Rockville Red Roof Inn
The victim was stabbed to death, say police, who believe she was working as a prostitute at the Rockville motel.
ROCKVILLE, MD — A teenager and a man from Washington, D.C., have been charged with stabbing a prostitute to death at the Red Roof Inn in Rockville last month.
Montgomery County Police on Tuesday arrested Arbra Arnie Bethea, 17, of the 4900 block of East Capitol St. SE in Washington, D.C., and Keith Christopher Renier, 21, of the 4200 block of Fort Dupont Terrace SE in Washington, D.C., for the first-degree murder of Keyonna Blakeney, 22. Bethea has been charged as an adult.
Both suspects are in the custody of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections and are awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.
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Montgomery County Police and Fire crews, along with Rockville City Police, were called to the motel, 16001 Shady Grove Road, just before noon on Saturday, April 16, for the report of a death. Blakeney was found dead in a hotel room with trauma evident to her upper body; she had been assaulted in the room hours earlier.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide by multiple sharp-force injuries.
Investigators say the victim and several acquaintances were renting rooms at the Red Roof Inn to engage in prostitution. During the early morning hours of April 16, there was a confrontation between the two suspects and Blakeney in her hotel room and the victim was stabbed multiple times, police say.
Detectives developed Bethea and Renier as suspects. Arrest warrants were issued for the pair charging them with first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
On Tuesday, Montgomery County Police, with the assistance of U.S. Marshals, arrested Bethea and Renier in Washington, D.C.
Detectives ask anyone who may have information about the murder to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.
For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
»Photo of Keith Renier, courtesy of Montgomery County Police
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