Arrest made in brutal 2005 Thanksgiving Day murder in DC
WASHINGTON - Nearly two decades after the tragic death of a young woman on Thanksgiving Day, authorities have made an arrest in the long-cold case.
On November 24, 2005, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Seventh District and D.C. Fire and EMS responded to a fire at an apartment in the 1200 block of Valley Avenue, Southeast, around 9 p.m.
Inside, they found 23-year-old Makia Mosby, suffering from burns and gunshot wounds.
Mosby, a Southeast D.C. resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mosby’s death a homicide. Despite the immediate investigation, the case remained unsolved for 19 years.
Detectives from MPD’s Major Case Squad pursued leads over the years, and their persistence led to a breakthrough.
This week, the investigation culminated in a D.C. Superior Court indictment of the suspect.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, members of the United States Marshals Service arrested Michael Wells, 53, of Southeast D.C., on a DC Superior Court bench warrant.
Wells was transported to the MPD Homicide Branch, where he was charged with first-degree murder.
This arrest marks a significant step in delivering justice for Mosby and her loved ones. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the suspect or the evidence that led to the indictment.
Anyone with additional information about this case is encouraged to contact the Metropolitan Police Department.