District Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Southeast Washington Murder

Washington, D.C. – A ruthless killer has been locked away for life after a judge sentenced Dennis Chase, 33, to 420 months in federal prison for the cold-blooded murder of Anthony Orr in Southeast Washington.

In October 2024, a Superior Court jury found Chase guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The evidence against Chase was overwhelming, detailing a chilling sequence of events that began with the shooting death of Orr on Xenia St. SE.

According to authorities, Chase methodically drove Orr around Washington Highlands before pulling over and gunning him down in cold blood. He then abandoned the scene, leaving Orr’s body behind. The defendant didn’t stop there; he fled north into Maryland, where he attempted to burn his own vehicle, hoping to destroy any evidence of his crime.

However, his luck ran out when he sought shelter at a random home and was eventually arrested on an unrelated warrant by Anne Arundel County Police. MPD Homicide Detectives later charged Chase with the murder of Orr after piecing together the investigation.

In court, Chase claimed self-defense but this narrative fell flat as the evidence mounted against him. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro commended the Metropolitan Police Department for their relentless pursuit and expressed gratitude towards the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their assistance in the case.

Pirro also acknowledged the dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office team, including Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling and Charlie Bruce, Victim/Witness Advocate Jenn Clark, and Victim/Witness Coordinators Maenylie Watson and Katina Adams-Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman led the investigation while Wes Faulkner and Andrea Antonelli prosecuted the case with unwavering determination.

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