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Who is Lavaughn Barnes? Mentally ill DC man charged with murder after handyman’s headless and handless remains found

The remains of the victim were found on February 3, however, as per Barnes’ own alleged confession, the murder took place in 2022
UPDATED FEB 18, 2023
A K-9 officer standing out the DC home where a handyman was found decapitated (WUSA9 screengrab)
A K-9 officer standing out the DC home where a handyman was found decapitated (WUSA9 screengrab)

BROOKLAND, WASHINGTON, DC: A Washington, DC man has been accused of brutally killing and mutilating his victim in the nation’s capital. It is reported that the arrested Lavaughn Barnes was living in his sister’s basement in a Brookland rowhome in DC’s Northeast quadrant at the time of Abdulio Arias-Lopez's death. The remains of the victim were found on February 3, however, as per investigation and Barnes’ own alleged confession, the murder took place in November 2022.

“At approximately 8:31 am, Fifth District officers responded to the listed location for the report of human remains located in the yard of a residence. Upon arrival, officers located the remains. The remains were confirmed to be human by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The remains were recovered and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further examination,” said police. The detectives’ investigation determined that the death of the victim was the result of a homicide. The alleged killer surrendered himself and was arrested on Wednesday, February 15, as per police. Barnes now faces a charge of first-degree murder while armed.

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Who is Lavaughn Barnes?

A Brookland, Washington, DC resident, Lavaughn Barnes allegedly confessed to killing a handyman and decapitating his body. The 32-year-old reportedly cut the body parts and put it in a dustbag before police finally found it during an investigation. Barnes is being detained and will remain in police custody before his trial begins. 

Metropolitan Police Department Detective Brian Bador said while describing the scene as in search warrant, “The structure is described as a yellow rowhome. The main entrance door to the residence is brown. To the left of the entrance door are the numerals ‘1336’ which are black in color. The yard is accessed along a grass path beside the home. The detective asked for judicial permission to search the yard for evidence of the victim’s remains and any other clue in the case, such as blood, which could be used as possible DNA evidence, or any weapons, according to Law&Crime report.

A DC judge found probable cause for authorities to search the premises, and human remains were found in “black drawstring trash bags with red pulls,” as per officials. According to the affidavit along with the application for the warrant read, “the remains were discovered in the yard when Witness-1 was ‘clearing the field from the overgrowth of bamboo.’”

'Partially decomposed and decapitated human body'

WUSA9 reports that Abdulio Arias-Lopez’s body was decapitated and was handless. “A homicide detective observed the partially decomposed and decapitated human body. The body was inside of a black plastic trash bag,” read the affidavit. It is alleged that the victim was shot once in the abdomen, and after the killing, the suspect went to Ace Hardware store to get the ax used for cutting up the victim’s remains. Barnes will continue to remain in police custody.

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