Friends and colleagues of slain attorney Robert Wone crowded into a meeting room at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. for a press conference on Monday, Aug. 6. Wone, 32, was stabbed to death in a college friend’s townhome northeast of Dupont Circle last year, and no arrests have been made.

Attorney Benjamin Razi, a former colleague of Wone who now represents his widow Katherine Wone, said of the press conference, “I hope that the passion of this group will get the city’s attention and motivate people to action.”

“Everybody we’d been able to talk to now has a lawyer, so there hasn’t been a lot of keeping in contact,” said Capt. C.V. Morris, head of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s violent crime section, of the men present in the home when Wone was stabbed. “That’s the card we were dealt. There’s no reason to try [to contact] them at this point.”

The event took place in a large meeting room where Robert Wone had organized an attorney development seminar in April 2006. After brief introductory remarks from Covington & Burling attorney Benjamin Razi, Kathy Wone was the first to speak. She thanked everyone for attending.

“As we approached the one-year mark of Robert’s death last week, several people asked how I was doing. As I look back on this unexpected journey, I’m encouraged by how far I’ve come, due in no small part to the extraordinary support I’ve received from my church, my family, my friends and colleagues. Slowly but surely, life has been coming back. I’m laughing again, and I’m enjoying the company of friends. I can listen to music, and this time, I can actually hear the notes. So, I think overall, I’ve done okay from having come through the darkest year of my life....”

Kathy Wone continued with remarkable composure, “To everyone who was even remotely touched by Robert’s friendship, he was an individual of exceptional integrity, compassion, intelligence, and wit... He accomplished so much in his short life, and now we are left to only imagine how much more he would have done for this city and its various communities.”

She asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office, police, FBI to not let the case languish. “Last, but not least, I have a few words for the individual who took Robert’s life. The countless numbers of friends, colleagues, and family members from all over the country have been shaken to the core by the tragic and senseless loss of such a young and promising life. While dealing with my own share of paralyzing sadness, I realize that I also grieve deeply for the loss of your own life. Having a murder on your conscience is no small load to carry, as you try to live, I imagine, as normal a life as possible. Confessing will be the hardest thing that you will ever do in your life. Our laws will impose severe consequences, but it will also be the most freeing thing that you can do for yourself. The secret like the one you are hiding from the world will only grow heavier with time.”

Jason Torchinsky, a college friend and past roommate, spoke next. Speaking rapidly as if to squelch his sorrow and nervousness, Torchinksy stated, “Robert was a special person. He worked hard, was tenacious about everything he did.... He worked countless hours here at Covington, devoted himself to the Asian bar, was active in his church, worked on pro bono legal projects, and was a caring and devoted husband. Just over one year ago, I received a phone call from Kathy early in the morning telling me the news, that Robert had passed away. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. When someone like Robert died so young, you expect it to be the result of some sudden or previously unknown illness or an accident. I was in complete shock that Robert was killed by somebody, and I am still in shock today. Every time I think about the fact that whoever who did this is still out there, I am struck by a horrible mixture of sadness and anger– sadness that Robert is gone, sadness that he is not here to share the joys and trials and tribulations of life with us, and anger that whoever did this is still out there and not behind bars and awaiting trial....

Everyday this past year, I’d hoped to hear from Kathy or the news media that the investigators had solved the crime or were bringing charges or had come to a conclusion about what happened. We don’t know who did this.... Someone out there deliberately killed Robert Wone, someone so depraved that they were able to kill him and remain silent about their crime. Someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, police will get the information they need to solve this crime and provide an explanation for Robert’s family and friends. What I want to say to the people in this room and to anyone listening, the police need help to finish its DNA analysis .. and anyone else who might have information that might be remotely helpful needs to step forward and volunteer information they might have to investigators. His family and friends deserve an explanation. The people of Washington, D.C. need to know that a killer is on the loose in their city. Whoever killed Robert Wone needs to face justice, either in this life or in the next.”

Torchinsky sat down, barely able to suppress his emotions further. He was followed at the podium by Eugene Chay, past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association-D.C. and attorney at Spriggs & Hollingsworth.

“I first met Robert Wone in the spring of 2001 when he interviewed to join the board of an organization I was part of, an association affiliated with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Since then, I had the honor of serving with Robert on nonprofit boards of directors for several years, including the final years of his life. Robert was the president-elect of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association when he was tragically killed. He was set to assume office just a few short days after his death. When Robert died, our community lost a great leader. I think that’s demonstrated today by the strong showing and support that we have from APABA-DC members. Robert had already achieved so much in his short life, and he was destined to do more. But Kathy lost more than a great leader, she lost her partner best friend and husband, his parents lost their son, and his brother lost his brother, and Jason and I lost a friend. And now, a year later, his murder’s still unsolved. It doesn’t seem real to me that that can be possible.

A year ago, in the days following Robert’s death, I remember telling several people that I didn’t care who did it, that I didn’t care if they were ever caught, if they were ever brought to justice, because at that point in time, nothing even seemed to matter, because none of that was going to bring Robert back. It was all that I really cared about. And now a year later in retrospect, I think that might have been the only way that I could cope at that time. now a year later, I’m angry, and I’m left coping with the thought that it’s just not right, that a year after his death, whoever murdered Robert is still walking around, walking our streets, scott-free. I don’t know all the details of the investigation, and I’m ignorant as to the reasons why this has taken so long, but I think we all deserve answers. Kathy and Robert’s families deserve answers. I join Kathy and Jason in calling for anybody who has any information regarding Robert’s death to step forward, make themselves known, and tell what they know to the D.C. Police, the FBI, U.S. Attorney. Whoever did this can and must be brought to justice. Thank you.”

Eric Holder, a partner at Covington & Burling and former Deputy Attorney General of the United States, spoke last. His speech was measured and sure, spoken as a former judge and seasoned prosecutor.

“One year ago, last Thursday night, that man, a loving husband, a son, a brother, an accomplished member of the bar, a friend to many people was murdered,” he stated, while pointing to an enlarged photograph of Robert Wone that had been placed on an easel. Holder asked the photographers to focus on the back of the packed room.

“This room is filled, filled with people who care a great deal about this young man. This was not a hard thing for us to do, this is not a staged event. He was a kind and gentle man, and he was stabbed to death, killed in the most horrible of ways. As despicable as that crime was and is, as big a tragedy as that is, it is compounded by the fact that Robert’s killer has not been brought to justice. Washington, D.C. is a great city, and in this case, our city has not lived up to its greatness, in fact, none of us has. A year after Kathy’s husband was taken from her, not a single person has been charged with any single crime in connection with that ... , despite the fact that Robert was in a house with friends at the time that he was stabbed, despite the fact that the knife used to stab him was taken from the kitchen of the house where he was spending the night. We’re here today to ask everyone in this city, including ourselves, to do more. When we leave today, each of us needs to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask is there more that I can do to bring Robert’s killer or killers to justice? To bring some measure of closure for Robert’s and his widow’s families. For all those who are close to Robert, Do I have any information that may explain why someone killed him....

Even if it makes you feel uncomfortable, this information needs to be shared. It’s a tiny price to pay compared to the price that Robert has paid, and the price that Kathy and his family have paid, and will continue to pay. Your information, in whatever form, is critical. For those in 1509 Swann Street where Robert was killed, you need to truly ask yourselves, truly, truly ask yourselves, have I provided the police with all the information that might be relevant to the investigation of his murder? Only you, your conscience, and your god know the answer to that question, but that is the question you must ask yourselves if you care about his family, if you care about Kathy, come forward and share all of the information that you have.

We are not here to blame anybody for the fact that this case has not been solved. We’re here to remind the city about Robert’s untimely demise, and we implore everybody to do more to solve this case. Washington D.C. is better than this. Robert’s murder was and is a terrible tragedy that can never be undone. The fact that no one has been held responsible for what was done to Robert is unjust, simply unjust. A killer, a killer walks among us– think about that, a killer who engaged in this kind of conduct and killed a wonderful kind man, is still walking among us. The sharing of information is key to the solving of this case. The information that we need to have to solve this case is out there and in the possession of somebody who should come forward.”

Eric Holder opened up the session to questions, and one journalist immediately directed a question to Kathy Wone.

“Kathy’s not gonna answer questions,” Holder said politely and firmly. From then on, Holder fielded the questions. A reporter asked his opinion on whether the crime scene was cleaned and the behaviors of the residents present at the time of Wone’s murder (Joseph Price, Victor Zaborsky, and Dylan Ward).

“I don’t know that the crime scene was cleaned up,” Holder responded. “It was certainly their right [pause] to get lawyers.”

Holder said that while the three men in the home claimed that “they care a great deal about Robert,” he felt there was a contradiction between that and not sharing information. “It might seem inconsequential to them it may be key,” Holder said.

The press conference ended after approximately thirty minutes. Reporters rushed up to the speakers at the front of the room, as audience members conversed among themselves, spilling back into the hallway.

One friend of Robert Wone in the audience was attorney Kathy Ng, who met Wone in 2001 when they served on the Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund board together.

“I actually spoke to him by e-mail the morning of the day that he was murdered. He told me that he was happy and everything was going well. He really loved his job and was looking forward to being sworn in as the new APABA president,” recalled Ng. “We talked about large law firm life and he gave me some advice. The next day he was gone. To this day, I am still moved that on the last day he was alive, he stopped and asked me how I was. Sometimes, I worry that the world has forgotten him. I don't think that I ever will.”

Aryani Ong, former Deputy Director of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) and now a nonprofit consultant, was in attendance with OCA President Ginny Gong to show her support as a friend of Robert and Kathy Wone. In 2004, she recruited Robert Wone to join the OCA's capital campaign as its pro bono counsel.

Ong remarked through email after the press conference, "Robert Wone was a true servant leader. He volunteered his time not only at the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) as its counsel, but no fewer than half a dozen more positions from New York to Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Our community, particularly the Asian Pacific American community, is bereft of a leader, a public servant, a colleague and a friend. At age 32, he already played highly influential roles in a range of areas, including establishing the first National Center for Asian Pacific American Leadership; relocating a Chinese heritage museum; promoting lawyer networking and law clerkship opportunities; supporting legal referral services for low-income and limited English proficient APAs and program services for Latin youth and families; and, serving on advisory councils for his college alma mater and a state commission for volunteer service. He demonstrated to all that one individual can make a positive difference in countless lives. Robert Wone's death was tragic and senseless. The people whom he left behind are committed to remembering Robert Wone, his life and work. One year later, a myriad of fellowships, awards, tributes and conferences now bear his name. But the people whom he left behind are also deserve the truth behind the tragedy. We came in support of Robert Wone's family and friends who have called on all who can bring the investigation of his homicide case to a close to do so without further delay. The last act of decency to Robert Wone's memory is to allow his loved ones to move on with their lives."

A request for an interview with Dylan Ward was declined by his attorney David Schertler. Kathleen Voelker, attorney for Joseph Price, did not respond to a request for an interview with Price.