Man Admits Killing Arlington Rock Climber With Claw Hammer

By DEB BELT (Patch Staff)

BETHESDA, MD — A Virginia rock climber pleaded guilty Monday to beating a fellow climber from Arlington to death with a claw hammer near the Billy Goat Trail in Montgomery County.

David DiPaolo, 33, of Bristow, pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a man in Carderock Recreation Area near Bethesda.

According to DiPaolo’s plea agreement, on Dec. 28, 2013, DiPaolo had argued with fellow climber Geoffrey Farrar, 69, of Arlington, in the parking area at the Montgomery County park. After the fight, Farrar went to the base of the rock climbing area and DiPaolo returned to his parked vehicle.

Soon after, DiPaolo found the victim and hit Farrar multiple times on the head with a claw hammer.

Court records say DiPaolo then fled from the park and subsequently drove to New York State, where he remained until his arrest on Jan. 8, 2014.

Following DiPaolo’s attack, other rock climbers in the area found Farrar at the base of the Billy Goat Trail; he was suffering from massive head trauma, but was still alive. Emergency personnel were called, and Farrar was airlifted to a hospital in Bethesda, where he later died of his injuries.

If a federal judge accepts the plea agreement, DiPaolo will be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 9.