Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney's Office noted that conclusion of Randolph Scott Harris' case. Harris, also known as Eddie Harris, 46, was sentenced to 242 months for AWIK, ADW, threats and "related firearms charges," according to a press release. Why should we care? Because of the circumstances of his crimes.

Read More "Randolph Scott Harris Sentenced For Assaulting Wife, Pastor" »

You think you know Joseph Randolph Mays. You know that he's an ex-postal worker. You know that he's been charged with stabbing to death his girlfriend Erika Peters and her two young boys on March 21. You know that he's now another defendant awaiting trial at the D.C. Jail.

But Joseph Randolph Mays was much more. He was a poet, a spiritual counselor, and an Internet addict. On one of his more than six blogs and websites, he penned his own simple message to the world:

"My message to everyone in the world. Let’s do this and make our world a better place to live in."

Read More "Who Is Joseph Randolph Mays?" »

On March 21, Erika Peters and her two young boys were found murdered in their Carver Terrace home at 2000 Maryland Avenue NE Apt. 104. Within hours, her live-in boyfriend Joseph Randolph Mays was charged with the fatal stabbings. This week I wrote a cover story about the tragedy and the several questions left unresolved. One of the big questions: What exact time was the 911 call made?

Peters' neighbors say the police arrived a lot earlier than 1 p.m. (the time listed on the police department's press release). Two government sources suggested the neighbors are correct. If this is true, it would mean the police took at least two hours to get inside the Peters' home.

I asked repeatedly for the exact time from various government officials. They all stonewalled me on this most basic fact. Attorney General Peter Nickles gave the reason most often used---the Peters case was an on-going case so that fact could not be made public.

I am still unsure why the exact time of the first 911 call would have any bearing on the case against Mays. The stonewalling was just unnecessary and unusually obnoxious even for government officials in the age of Fenty. I know people have a low tolerance for whiny journalists. But this is different. This issue goes to public safety and accountability.

Read More "Who Is Stonewalling On The Peters Case?" »

Today, Erika Peters and her young sons, Erik Harper and Dakota Peters, will be laid to rest. The wake and funeral services will be starting at 9:30 a.m. at Mount Calvary Holy Church at 610 Rhode Island Avenue NE. On March 21, they were stabbed to death in their apartment. Police have arrested Peters' live-in boyfriend Joseph Randolph Mays for the murders.

In this week's cover story, we chronicle the events of March 21, the police response, and Mays' mysterious life. We also ask three questions still unanswered about the murders. The only thing that is clear is that the residents of Carver Terrace had tried to offer support to the family, and knew them well.

Read More "Remembering Erika Peters And Her Sons" »

Yesterday, Joseph Randolph Mays was arraigned on homicide charges for allegedly murdering his girlfriend Erika Peters and her two young sons in their Carver Terrace apartment on Saturday. In filings before the court, the D.C. police wrote a narrative of what transpired on that Saturday afternoon. It is the first detailed account of the triple murder that took place at 2000 Maryland Ave. NE, Apt. 104.

The details are incredibly sad. At first, there appeared to be some confusion between the officer and the dispatcher about the nature of the call for Apt. 104. The dispatcher believed that the call for "trouble" may have been just a joke.

Sgt. Tyshena Wallace of cruiser 553 arrived on the scene and began knocking on the door. Sgt. Wallace heard a voice from within the apartment saying, 'no, stop.' Sgt. Wallace did not hear anything else. Sgt. Wallace called the dispatcher and advised her to utilize the call back. The dispatcher advised that every time she called the phone number, the call intercept came on blocking the call. Sgt. Wallace asked the dispatcher, 'what was the call for' and the dispatcher advised, 'a child screaming on the phone possibly playing.'

Read More "Joseph Randolph Mays: ‘I Told Them To Stop Fucking With Me’" »

Last night, City Desk got a bit of news on the triple homicide case---that the family did have contact with social services in 2006. Today, the Washington Post has an in-depth look at the problems between Erika Peters, her children and her live-in boyfriend.

The live-in boyfriend, Joseph Randolph Mays, was charged in the murders Saturday night.

The Post reports that Kimberly Trimble, Peters' sister, notified authorities about Joseph Mays' alleged abuse of one of the children: "Trimble said that about two years ago, she contacted the District's Child and Family Services Agency to report that Mays had shaken his daughter. A year after that, she said, she warned the principal at Holy Redeemer Catholic School to look out for marks on her sister's children. She said she did not remember what became of either warning."

This brings us back to CFSA and its involvement. Today we reached Attorney General Peter Nickles for a little more clarification.

Read More "‘The Family Was Stable’" »

Mafara Hobson, Mayor Adrian Fenty's spokesperson, confirms that the victims in yesterday's triple homicide in Northeast had contact with social services. A statement is being prepared which could take some more time. The victims--Erika Peters and two of her children--were stabbed and found by D.C. Police yesterday afternoon inside their Carver Terrace Apartments.

Last night, Joseph Randolph Mays--Peters' live-in boyfriend--was arrested for the murders.

City Desk will update when we get the statement from the Mayor's office.

Update 6:18 p.m. Attorney General Peter Nickles released this statement:

"After receiving a hotline tip [in] 2006, the Department of Child and Family Services took appropriate steps to resolve issues. In 2007, after the necessary measures were taken, the case was closed, with no subsequent reports."

Erika Peters

WTOP reports that Joseph Randolph Mays was arrested for the triple homicide in Northeast yesterday. Mays is alleged to have killed Erika Peters and two of her children. Mays was Peters live-in boyfriend. The station writes:

"Police say Peters and one young boy were dead at the scene. The second young victim was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police say Mays was found inside the apartment suffering from non-life threatening injuries. He was taken into police custody and treated at the hospital.

A third child was found unharmed and is now being cared for by Child Protective Services.

The homicide remains under investigation and anyone who has information about the case should call police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-2746."

Read More "Joseph Mays Arrested In Triple Homicide" »