WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- As police continue their investigation into the murder of 91-year-old Viola Drath, some new information has emerged. According to court records, Mrs. Drath was not the only person who sought protection from her husband, Albrecht Muth.
9 News Now traded more than a half dozen emails with Mr. Muth Tuesday. In our exchanges, he said police told him he is the only suspect in his wife's murder, but also believes he's beginning to be ruled out or otherwise, police would have arrested him.
The murder of 91-year-old Viola Drath in her stately Georgetown home has uncovered serious allegations of violence involving her husband, more than 40 years her junior. And now, court records reveal Albrecht Muth had a tumultuous five-year relationship with another man during his marriage.
In an email to Andrea McCarren, Muth wrote: "He was the boy, she was the wife. You have the one for one set of reasons, the other for another. The lives were fully integrated. We went on trips together."
Like Muth's wife, his gay lover sought and won protection from the court after his relationship with Muth allegedly turned violent.
Drath's death has revealed several reports of domestic violence inside the couple's Georgetown home. In another email, Muth acknowledged his guilt after a 1992 assault conviction.
He wrote: "I had beaten her, and all went by the books. I take no issue. I shall always regret, that under U.S. legal advice, I pleaded not guilty."
Muth says other accusations of violence, made by his late wife and his former lover are "pure fabrications."
When asked directly whether he had killed his wife, Muth replied, "No, I am not associated with the murder of my wife. Other than that, I was not there to prevent it. I failed my wife."
Monday, neighbors said police had been called to Drath's Georgetown home at least 3 times since December of last year.
"I've witnessed at least several, 3 or 4 actually, instances when the police have come for some sort of domestic disturbance," said neighbor Laura Bowling.
Court records indicated domestic violence cases dating back to 1992. A 2008 case against Muth notes that the victim is currently in the hospital and unable to appear in court. A stay away order was filed and later lifted.
The affidavit paints a scene of extraordinary violence in which Muth allegedly beat Drath over the head with a chair, threw her off a couch, pounded her head into the floor and sat on her for five to 10 minutes. At the time, she was 86. He was 42. The case was never prosecuted.
"I never heard anything going on next door except for occasional parties that seemed very controlled," said neighbor Susan Jones.
We also found three other cases against Muth, under the first name Albert instead of Albrecht. One involved allegations of domestic violence, for which he pleaded guilty. Two others involved threats and an assault.
Drath and her husband of more than 20 years raised eyebrows as they walked along Georgetown's upscale streets, not just for their age difference, but for Muth's eccentric clothing.
"The outfits were definitely bizarre. Some of the neighbors refer to him as Colonel Mustard," shared Bowling.
Online, Muth describes himself as a secret agent, diplomat and militia leader who also goes by the name Sheik Ali Al-Muthaba. He blogs about the Iraqi military and is critical of the U.S. approach to the Taliban.
Muth may also have a troubled financial history. In 2006, the IRS placed a $68,000 lien on the house.
On Saturday, Drath's husband reportedly emailed her obituary to the Washington Post, saying her death was caused by head trauma resulting from a fall. That same day, an autopsy revealed injuries inconsistent with a fall, according to police and investigators found no evidence of forced entry into the couple's home.
The police investigation continues into Drath's death. Her death was initially believed to be the result of a fall, but after police reviewed her autopsy results, it became a homicide investigation.
Drath, who was an advocate for American-German relations and a former journalist, was found dead on her bathroom floor on the 3200 Block of Q Street, DC Metropolitan Police say.
On Saturday, August 13, the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia pronounced the death a homicide.
There was no comment from Drath's family members Monday night. They have asked for privacy.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).
The Metropolitan Police Department is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of a future suspect. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-800-673-2777 and to the department's TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.
If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
No comments:
Post a Comment