Arrest after visiting artist found bound, stabbed to death in D.C. rowhouse

WASHINGTON -- Authorities say they’ve charged a man with murder in the death of a North Carolina artist found bound and stabbed to death in the Washington, D.C. rowhouse where she was staying.

34-year-old Corrina Mehiel of Burnsville, North Carolina, was temporarily living in Washington while helping with an exhibit at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Media outlets report that Mehiel was found tied up and stabbed to death in the basement apartment near northeast Washington’s popular H Street corridor March 21. Her missing car was found over the weekend.

Police in Washington said in a statement Tuesday that they’ve charged 28-year-old El Hadji Alpha Madiou Toure, who has no fixed address, with first-degree murder while armed and theft.

Police say Toure was arrested Monday as a fugitive from another jurisdiction and he was taken to the homicide branch, where he was charged in Mehiel’s death.

Mehiel opened an exhibit that raised awareness about lead poisoning, reports CBS affiliate WUSA9. She had had dinner with colleagues March 19, and was scheduled to leave D.C. and return to North Carolina the following morning.

Mel Chin, a visiting professor at the Corcoran School who worked with Mehiel, described Mehiel to the station as a feminist who wanted to end violence against women and was committed to fairness and justice.

“To the person who did this to her, you are too late — you failed,” said Chin. “Corrina Mehiel was already liberated and emboldened so many people to fight for their beliefs. Her spirit will continue.” 

Police had previously released a surveillance image of a person of interest spotted at a Maryland gas station.