Man charged after decapitated remains found in yard of NE DC home, police say
WASHINGTON (7News) — A 32-year-old D.C. man was arrested Wednesday after police say decapitated human remains were found in the yard of a Northeast D.C. home.
On Feb. 3, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department discovered human remains in the yard of a home in the 1300 block of Kearney Street.
According to the search warrant, the body had been decapitated and there was a bullet wound in the abdomen. Detectives determined that the victim had been murdered.
Lavaughn Barnes, of Northeast, D.C, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the discovery of the body belonging to Abdulio Arias-Lopez, police said.
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Court documents indicate Arias-Lopez was doing work for Barnes at the home. Documents detail that a detective asked Barnes specifically what had happened when Arias-Lopez had come over to his house that day. Barnes said Arias-Lopez was showing him paint because he was going to paint the kitchen.
Arias-Lopez put the paint down and walked away, and when his back was turned, Barnes struck Arias-Lopez with a Taser to the back, court documents said.
Documents said that Arias-Lopez then asked Barnes why he was doing this, to which Barnes replied that he wasn't in his right mind and he began to kick and punch Arias-Lopez.
Barnes then stabbed Arias-Lopez twice before taking his body to the basement, court documents indicated, adding that Barnes then went to an ACE Hardware store to purchase an axe in order to dismember Arias-Lopez' body.
Barnes is charged with second degree murder while armed.
