Metro Briefs

DISTRICT

Evidence examined in Jacks case

Prosecutors are still interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical evidence in the case against a D.C. woman accused of killing her four daughters.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Sines said at a hearing yesterday that prosecutors have interviewed many witnesses in the Banita Jacks case, but still need to talk to others.

She said T-shirts and a knife recovered from the scene were also still being examined.

D.C. Superior Judge Frederick H. Weisberg scheduled a follow-up hearing for June 13. Miss Sines said she expects to have an indictment from the grand jury by then.

The bodies of the girls, aged 5-16, were found decomposing in their Southeast row house on Jan. 9.

Miss Jacks remains held without bond on murder charges.

City sues landlords for code violations

The District is suing 23 landlords whose residential properties have a history of code violations.

The lawsuit names more than 70 buildings across the city, affecting more than 470 apartments. It asks for court-appointed receivers to manage 13 of the buildings by collecting rent and using the money to repair the housing-code violations.

If the rent money doesn’t cover the repairs, the city will ask the court to order the owner to make the changes.

VIRGINIA

ARLINGTON

Dozens at conference suddenly fall ill

Officials at the Prince George’s County Health Department in Maryland say 65 people who attended a convention at a newly opened conference center have fallen ill.

Rob Yingling of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said the authority’s fire department received calls for a dozen sick people at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport beginning Thursday evening.

Mr. Yingling said the 12 travelers had similar symptoms, including nausea, and all were planning to depart on flights from the airport.

County Health Officer Donald Shell said he thinks the illness is similar to a norovirus infection because of its short incubation period, but test results are still pending.

Health officials said others who became ill after attending the convention Thursday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Prince George’s County came forward yesterday.

The Gaylord, part of the county’s National Harbor development project, opened this week.

RICHMOND

State police think fugitive was helped

Police think a man accused of shooting a Virginia state trooper has received help during his week on the run.

Authorities are continuing to search for Steven Dale Branscome, 32, of Barren Springs, Va.

Trooper Richard Hughes was shot March 28 while chasing Mr. Branscome on foot after a short vehicle pursuit just inside West Virginia, across from the Giles County line. Trooper Hughes was not seriously injured.

“For Steven Branscome to have been able to elude authorities this long, we are fairly sure that he has received help along the way,” said Virginia State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty.

Police warned that anyone aiding Mr. Branscome could face charges.

Mr. Branscome is wanted on charges of stealing vehicles in Floyd County, Va., and Mercer County, W.Va.

MARYLAND

BALTIMORE

Offender registry act nets first arrest

Baltimore officials said they have made their first arrest under a new law that requires convicted gun offenders to register with the city.

Baltimore police arrested Quentin Adams, 18, Thursday night for failing to register as a gun offender. Police said he provided a false address in Salisbury when he signed up for the city’s gun-offender registry in March.

Convicted gun offenders are required to register with the police department every six months for three years after they are released from prison.

The department’s gun-offender monitoring unit maintains the registry and enforces compliance. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by prison time and fines.

RIVERDALE

Brothers suspected of stabbing teen

Prince George’s County Police said two brothers from Hyattsville are suspects in the stabbing death Wednesday of a Parkdale High School student.

Police said Guillermo Enrique Medina, 15, was stabbed in the chest after he exchanged words with someone in a car that approached him on Good Luck Road near the school in Riverdale.

Officers arrested Walter Izaguirre Henrique, 18, on Wednesday on an unrelated charge. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond.

Police are still looking for his brother, Rony Antonio Izaguirre, 18, who is charged in an arrest warrant with first-degree murder.

From wire dispatches and staff reports