WASHINGTON D.C. – Levi Ruffin, 41, of Washington, D.C., is facing a lifetime behind bars after being indicted by a Superior Court grand jury on a staggering 29 counts stemming from the sexual assaults of three women in Columbia Heights between 2003 and 2007. The indictment, announced yesterday by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Peter Newsham, brings a dark chapter closer to closure after years of silence.
The charges are brutal in their detail. Ruffin faces 15 counts for a July 2, 2003 attack, including burglary while armed, kidnapping while armed, and first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. The 2007 attacks – nine counts on June 3rd and five counts on September 8th – mirror the savagery, adding burglary, kidnapping, and first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances to the list. Crucially, cold case detectives managed to link Ruffin to two of the three attacks through DNA evidence, finally providing a concrete connection after years of investigation.
According to the government’s evidence, the attacks were all shockingly similar. In 2003, Ruffin allegedly broke into a woman’s home, brandished a knife, and violently assaulted her before demanding money. The 2007 assaults saw him attacking women in stairwells of their apartment buildings, again employing violence and sexual assault. The victims were all strangers to their attacker, highlighting the predatory nature of the crimes. If convicted, Ruffin will not only face a potential life sentence without parole, but will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The break in the case came in June 2018 when MPD’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit reopened the files. A D.C. Superior Court judge signed an arrest warrant for Ruffin on June 27, 2018 – a mere five days before the statute of limitations would have expired on the first assault. The timing is critical, and a testament to the relentless work of the investigators. Adding a chilling layer to the case, Ruffin is currently incarcerated, serving a sentence for a 2013 violent armed sexual assault and robbery on Georgia Avenue, NW.
U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham were quick to praise the collaborative effort that led to the indictment. The MPD’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, and forensic examiners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations all played vital roles. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the contributions of Victim/Witness Advocates Veronica Vaughan and Juanita Harris, and Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Fogle and TJ McPhail, acknowledging the sensitivity and support needed in cases like these.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Zubrensky and Marisa S. West are leading the investigation and prosecution. While the charges are merely allegations at this stage, and Ruffin is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the evidence presented suggests a pattern of violent, predatory behavior. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments as they unfold. The victims deserve justice, and this indictment is a significant step towards achieving it.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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