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Subscribe to RSSBoth suspect and police are shocked when job application leads to a 1975 murder warrant. Chris Gordon reports.
A Washington, D.C., man was detained for first-degree murder when a background check for a new job revealed an outstanding warrant in one of the oldest cold case murders in Montgomery County.
Bobby Coley, 63, of southeast Washington, was applying for work as a temp Tuesday, when a background check uncovered an outstanding warrant in his name. When Coley went to the sheriff’s office to clear his name and land the job, he had no idea the warrant was for murder.
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“We weren’t finding anything, and so we finally looked in judicial case search and we actually saw that a warrant popped up under that name, Bobby Coley, and it said, ‘first-degree murder,’” Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin said.
The victim, Leopold Lynwood Chromak, disappeared on July 26, 1975. Two days later his wife contacted police and reported him missing.
“But Mr. Chromak was never located, never returned home,” said Lucille Baur, of Montgomery County police.
In 1984, a detective learned that the missing person case was actually a murder-for-hire, and that Chromak’s wife, Frances, had hired three men -- Griffin, Smitty and Bobby Coley -- to kill her husband. According to police documents, the woman said her husband was abusive and had beaten her.
The three men allegedly smothered Chromak at Winexburg Manor Apartments in Silver Spring, Md., wrapped his body in a rug or carpet, took it to a van and dumped it along Central Avenue.
The 63-year-old Coley, who has been in and out of federal custody on various charges since 1968, was in the D.C. Jail when the arrest warrant was filed in 1984. He wasn’t detained afterward and apparently never knew of the warrant.
The detective investigating the murder-for-hire said Frances Chromak changed her name to Barbara Ann Stevens and moved to Laurel, Md. Her whereabouts are unknown but she is believed to still be alive.
The 1975 murder case presents challenges for prosecutors. No body has been found, there is no direct evidence against Coley, and anonymous sources who supplied information in the past may no longer be available.
“So, now the investigating begins anew,” Baur said. “Now we go back. We find the original case files, the records.”
The public defender representing Coley in court said there’s no proof there was a murder and it’s unfair to hold Coley in jail while police and prosecutors investigate.
The prosecutor said he has to assess the viability of the 37-year-old case.
Coley is being held without bond.
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Leave a Comment:
Well, at least he does not have to worry about that temp job now. Room and board are paid for, and he won't have to go far to get a date either.
That's a bit callous. The man's trying to be an upstanding citizen looking for work just to get popped with something he knew nothing about.
I'm not trying to defend the guy, but the predicament seems like our judicial system are the ones to blame for the mishap. With little to no evidence on the case against him, all they're doing is stalling this man from living his life and being a productful member of society. What other crime has he been involved in since his release? Obviously none. Is it worth locking him up?
Ya, i mean think about all the people who've been sitting in jail for years and are being released via DNA technology. At this point it doesn't look like they have anything to hold the guy for - and he's just suppose to sit there as they take their sweet time?? Typical BS judicial system. If he could afford a decent attorney he'd be walking free right now.
Upstanding Citizen? He has a murder warrant out for his arrest and "The 63-year-old Coley, who has been in and out of federal custody on various charges since 1968, was in the D.C. Jail when the arrest warrant was filed in 1984". What next, the poor guy will be a victim of racial profiling?
Xaziol -
"something he knew nothing about"?
If he did it, he knew about it. Probably just thought he got away with it.
@RMU - And you're talking about 28 years and no evidence. And if you further read the rest of my post, then I see little point in creating a ruckus over something that has no clarity to it whatsoever, nor do I see it worth the tax payer's dollars to lock away an individual whom has had no further "outbursts" criminally. Alas, by your last comment, are you the one profiling? Or was there any particular reason as to why race suddenly became a fixation?
I hate how people instantly assume this guy is guilty. He has a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Even the police have no evidence on this guy. Some lady allegedly hired people to murder her husband, which is here say and they can't even arrest the lady for it, sounds really shaky to me.
I don't know if this guy did or did not do it but he definitely should not be locked up right now, wasting tax payer money for something that they are never going to be able to prove or have any proof that he did it. Given all of the circumstances presented, there isn't even a case on this guy and he is being held without bond.
Im a little confused - they have the names of 3 people suspected of a murder for hire, the name of the woman who hired them, and no body...
and have done nothing for 30 years?
go find the woman first, then do something about the case.
this is lazy police work at it's finest "we think you might have somethign to do this with, we have no clue for reals...but just sit in prison until we figure it out"
THAT is criminal in an of itself. First proof, then a sit in jail. not the other way around.
@RMU, Just because from 1968-1984 (almost 30 years ago), which would have made him a young teenager to early 30's, he was in and out of jail doesn't mean: 1.) he is a murderer or 2.) That since 1984, he has committed any crimes and hasn't been an upstanding citizen since serving his time (if he even did time, as they do not explain the severity or even the minority of his crimes back then.) It also doesn't change the fact that there is no evidence to support holding him in jail or tarnishing his name. I do not know if he did it, as I was not there, but it's clear that there is no evidence to support it at this moment.
Another Thug off the streets!
Xaziol,
What is "productful" . . ?
Of the many individuals out there collecting welfare, social security checks, medicare and aren't making an honest living, sucking off the resources that the American working class provide them; this one individual at least made an effort to contribute.
Yes, I realize productful is not a word ha. It got the point across though.
Something tells me that even if they set bail this guy could not make the bail. He as been in and out of prison since 1968 and was applying for a temp job, so I doubt he has any substantial money or ties to the community. They obviously have some evidence against him since a judge issued an arrest warrant. The law gives the District Attorney a certain period of time in which he must bring the case to trial and I see no reason they should not hold him in the meantime if he can not post significant bail; there is no statute of limitations on first degree murder.
@cheryl-2353569 - You need to reread the article. It says he has been in an out of prison since 1968. No where does it say he has been out of prison since 1984 and in fact it says he was in DC jail in 1984 when the arrest warrant was issued to start with. From the article it sounds like this guy has been a habitual criminal to have been in and out of prison over the last 44 years.
Xaziol,
"all they're doing is stalling this man from living his life and being a productful member of society."
He can still be a productive member of society even in prison. After all, everyone needs license plates for their cars! :)
Lack of thorough reading? My question was "Is it worth it to lock him up". Isn't cheap to lock up any criminal first off. Secondly, if he is working a steady job, he is providing more than just his own opportunity to advance in society. It just seems unnecessary to me with the lack of evidence and an absolute base for his detention right now.
Xaziol,
"if he is working a steady job"
Lack of thorough reading? The article said he was applying for a temporary job.
Obviously you don't know what most temporary jobs offer. It's called understanding the method by which Temp agencies work. Temp agencies frequently hand jobs to individual's with the understanding that it is temporary, however, in many cases, if the company for which the temp worker is working finds them suitable in the position, can and will hire them on full time.
So no sir, it's not a lack of thorough reading, but an understanding beyond simple comprehension.
The justice system is broken. This guy's guilty until proven innocent, while many rapists/murderers are innocent until proven guilty.
The justice system is broken. This guy's guilty until proven innocent, while many rapists/murderers are innocent until proven guilty.
Xaziol,
"So no sir, it's not a lack of thorough reading, but an understanding beyond simple comprehension."
If you are not a lawyer, you missed your calling!
It looks to me like they issued arrest warrants for all involved, then afterwords the case seemed to fall apart and they let the woman, ringleader, planner of the murder for hire planner go about her business, Nobody was convicted of any crime due to lack of evidence back in the day. Looks to me that this is a waste of money and time. I call bs on this situation. Cops can be real jerks about these things, as well as lawyers, Unless they find new evidence quickly, this guy should be free to go about his business, just like the assumed but let go, leader of this murder for hire plan.
JS in SD, there was no mention of crimes committed after 1984, be realistic when you lie.
Having lived in Montgomery county it is not hard to get fed charges, speeding ticket on b-w pkwy, infraction at dc memorial, etc.
JS in SD: Please reread the article again yourself. It says he was held in "federal custody" (that does not imply prison) and in a D.C. jail in 1984 and after that he was not detained. Meaning--he hasn't been in custody since 1984. Also, in federal "custody" isn't serving time in prison. A D.C. jail isn't prison either. Jail is usually where misdemeanors and low level felonies (less than a year sentence) happens. A prison is a serious felony with a year or longer jail sentence, For all we know, he was held on careless driving charges or speeding (over 25 the limit is a misdemeanor and is punishable by jail time which would take place in a jail, not a prison). Nothing mentioned in the article states that this man was a "serious offender" and cannot become a upstanding citizen once his youth is over. Like I said before, he was a young teenager to early 30's from 1968-1984. Many people make mistakes but not all of them commit murder. Murder is a serious crime.
I find it ironic that so many here screaming "innocent until proven guilty" also wanted Zimmerman's testicles in a bag. Hypocrite much?
In this case though, they're right. Just like a broken clock is right twice a day. The presumption of innocence should allow this man his freedom if there is no evidence. Even a legal aid lawyer should know to file for a writ of habeas corpus.
The Fuzz caught him slippin'.
@Xaziol---Well, he didn't show up on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry under that name, so that is one thing that you can latch onto.
oohhh I think i see a "Al and Jesse " field trip coming on and obamma will say if he had a grandpa he would look like MR Coley
That's cold dude. Presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Not until.
How wrong you are! Apparently you did not read the article. The man is in jail until they can create a murder case to try him for. There are NO witnesses to a crime! There is NO dead body!!! Under our current system you are guilty until proven innocent. George Zimmerman is another perfect example of this!
You mean Presumed guilty, and dragged on for months if not years for any conviction or exoneration.
Shame on this country for treating someone like that. No proof of anything, just an old warrant from somewhere and you let a man rot in jail.
I sure hope I never get in this mill of injustice! Sure is getting @!$%#ty in this country. And that politician bastard Edwards walks. What is going on here?
If the guy had no idea what the warrant was for and is willingly participating in background checks then it doesn't sound like he has a guilty conscience to me.
Besides, we are talking about the investigation of a black man from 1975. Unless there were more than a few anonymous witnesses the case is not only weak, but potentially biased. I am not even sure how they could get an arrest warrant with no evidence.
If the wife confessed then why the hell isn't her butt in jail right now???
They need a hearing ASAP and if the judge is responsible he/she needs to dismiss the charges unless new evidence is presented.
@ Sag - George Zimmerman was arrested and released on bond. This man is being held with out bond while they "make a case"
I wish Jerry Sandusky were black.
Not a shred of evidence against Mr. Coley, yet he's being held without bond. Meanwhile, that POS Sandusky was able to get out on a 100K bond.
In Florida, 2nd degree murder suspects don't get bond. George Zimmerman did though.
Mr. Coley could be guilty. But with ZERO evidence to prove it, give the guy a bond hearing, give him an ankle bracelet, and let justice run it's course.
****UPDATE*****
From being held without bond to released without charges, due to insufficient evidence. Seems like a drastic swing, but it is the right move.
The investigation will continue in full force. If they find a microgram worth of evidence against Mr. Coley, the MoCoPoPo will drag his arse back to jail again. In the meantime, GET SOME EVIDENCE FIRST!
I guess that is suppose to be funny in some way..... anyway, I am so tired of them wasting Tax Dollars on this kind of case. I guess they didn't charge or find the other guys that were suppose to be involved as well, so after 37 years you want to try this guy with no evidence.
To the family that lost a family member they won't be wasted tax dollars
they will be wasted if its the wrong guy.
and the presumed victim was a wife-beater too. (supposedly, the wife put a hit on dear old wife-beater hubby)
for all you know, the wife beater just got scared and left the state and changed his identity. no body was ever found after all.
Where's Al Sharpton?
The police and prosecutor must be blick...otherwise shiite storm and this guy would look like bummers dad.
What's blick? Ebonics knows no bounds.
You cannot say "black" on NewsVIne without the designated Hall Monitors suspending your NewsVine privileges...
No justice, No Peace!
So this was a murder for hire. The woman admitted to this and apparently did not do time in jail? If they didn't convict her why are they holding this guy and without bond? Were the laws about this different 37 years ago? You can't even verify his whereabouts at the time of the crime, hell they don't even know the time of the crime so his alibi is worthless.
Think about it, I can pick out a missing person, go to the cops and state that I had Peter, Paul and Mary murder the person and without a body or evidence hold these people in prison for as long as the prosecutor wants to investigate. The justice system in this country is a complete joke. Stop making it a contest between the prosecutor and attorney and start looking at proper justice. They have nothing but the warrant that they had to dig deep to find. Let the guy go free until you have something, anything to link him to the crime besides a battered woman's confession.
Prosecutor probably has his eye on the prize. Book deal----movie rights----money money money.
Couldn't agree with you more.
"Prosecutor probably has his eye on the prize. Book deal----movie rights----money money money."
Well, yeah, who would do anything for nothing.
I have to agree. I'm curious as to how they can hold this man without bond when there is no direct evidence linking him to the crime. I fully believe that it's never too late to right a wrong and if he DID commit the murder then he should go to jail, however with what they have against him now I don't see how they are able to hold him.
Well, if it was me and a warrent hanging over my head that wasn't rightous I would really want it cleared up. The problem here is the writer did no research on what they wrote. It wouldn't have taken much time to check out some newspapers archives first. Because he did a half a job look at all the crap coming out of the woodwork.
i totally agree. i dont understand how they can be holding him with no evidence it makes no sense and its not what this countries justice system should be like.
was the wife ever charged?? something seems funny about this story..
hmmm, didn't make me laugh, so didn't find it funny.
tough interviewer
This doesn't seem right. Something is missing here. They know where he was murdered, who did it, why and they even state WHERE the body was dumped (along central avenue) but they have no body? They know the woman changed her name and WHAT her name is and what city she moved too but they cannot find her? There is no direct evidence against this man either?!
WHY is he in jail again? WHY is there an arrest warrant? WHY can he not work?
Until he is proven guilty and it's obvious he won't be, then go ahead and let him go. I am not usually one to support a lot of the "technicalities" of the judicial system (I.E. evidence not being used for some formality problem) but this....this is ridiculous. There is no technicality here. There is nothing to link this man to this crime except hear-say. Until then, let him go.
I thought hear-say was inadmissible in court? Maybe I'm making too much sense.
Cheryl - sounds like a lot of their information was obtained from "anonymous" sources.
And hearsay evidence is usually inadmissible, with a few exceptions.
Like when there is no evidence.
If he had said he is an illegal alien, everything would have been fine, no background check, no ID needed. You're hired.
Seriously, you commit a murder and then submit to a background check? Can we say dumb criminal. There is no statue of limitations on murder. Forever look over your shoulder, idiots.
Maybe he didn't do it and therefore had no reason to worry about the background check. Either way there is no such thing as a statue of limitations afaik. Bronze? Marble?
hahahahaha.......There's got to be a statue of limitations somewhere, I mean there's a statue of liberty, right?
... now he laughs.
Wow exactly "Seriously, you commit a murder and then submit to a background check?" no criminal would do that. and if you have seen or read there is NO evidence!!! so please explain where the hell you got this ridiculous idea that he is a dumb criminal and he should forever look over his shoulder?
hahahaha now this comment is funny.. Please explain to me how you came to the conclusion that he is a dumb criminal?... If he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest and he "knew" he commited a murder or any other crime would he really take himself to the sheriff's department to get it cleared up so he can start a job?. umm i think not. they have no evidence against this man.
Something does not seem right there. If he was a murderer, and there is a mysterious warrant out for his arrest, wouldn't he try to skip town? No sane person would risk such a thing to get a job. He is either very dumb or innocent. I can't help but to lean more on the innocent side.
Did the wife get away with murder? Did she ever serve any time in prison?
Here is a case that would NOT be up for capital punishment.Too many ifs
Im with several others on here this makes no sense at all. Whats the chance that this was all staged and the guy is still alive living under an alias and with his wife????
Your theory would make a great hollywood movie. *laugh* an elaborate plot to get insurance money or something.
This guy should not be held, even if he did do it. There is not enough evidence. He got away with it. Pretty sad police work if the muderer has to fall into the detective's hands.
Just keep him in jail...he's guilty of somthing
He has already spent time in jail are you serious?. Keep this man in jail for what? you are assuming he is guilty of something. this is exactly what they are probably thinking keep him locked up im sure we can make something up to pin this to him so we dont look like idiots. WOW this comment is low.
alwayzright... yeah, and you're guilty of ignorance. Too bad we can't put you in jail.
What I don't understand is why he is being held without bond? Since there is no actual evidence against him and it is all hear say, then he should not be held without bond. They should give him an oportunity to post bail.
The article said the body was never found. They allegedly dumped the body along Central Avenue. I do not know the area but Central Avenue does not sound to me like a rural road. Just saying.
I bet that's where Jimmy Hoffa's body was tossed too.
To me it sounds as if the case against him is non-existent.
They have no body or any real evidence other than what someone said and this man is being held? He went to the Sheriffs office to clear things up, hardly sounds like someone with something to hide. I think it is wrong that he is being held for basically nothing as this point.
amazing
So the wife admits to hiring three guys to murder her husband and the Cops let her go and only issue a warrant for one of the accused murderers?
Oh I agree, why was the wife not detained.
I would think that the person who hires the killers, would be just as guilty.
Quite interesting. Background checks can turn up many things which may or may not belong to the person being searched.
No one has been tried for any crime, let alone get convicted. So, no crime, no time. Afterall, if he was guilty of murder he probably knew there was a warrant for him somewhere, so why would he go to the sherriff's office?
Just saying..