Downie: 'Post' Chandra Levy Series Led to Suspect

By: Joe Strupp Leonard Downie Jr. says The Washington Post's lengthy series last summer on the Chandra Levy murder likely led, at least in part, to the expected arrest of a man who had been cited in the series as a prominent suspect.

Ingmar Guandique, who is reportedly about to be charged in the case, had been named in the July 2008 Post series as a likely suspect. The stories, which some criticized as being too long and untimely, investigated several aspects of the police work in the case of Levy, the former government intern whose disappearance and murder sparked national speculation in 2001.

"I certainly think the series called attention to the problems in the original investigation, including missing clues that pointed to this suspect," Downie, the former executive editor who stepped down in September, told E&P. "I think it did cause the police to redouble their efforts."

Downie, who served as executive editor when the series ran, cited recent reports that an arrest of Guandique is expected as soon as this week. "There were several things that would have pointed to him," said Downie, who is in California on a book tour.

The 12-part series focused on the original investigation, which also linked Levy to former California Congressman Gary Condit. In the 10th installment, Post reporters cited Guandique as someone fingered by a jailhouse informant, but never pursued.

"The man, a 20-year-old Salvadoran named Ingmar Guandique, did not catch the attention of prosecutors until mid-September, when they heard that Guandique allegedly told a jailhouse informant that he had killed Chandra," the story said. "On Sept. 21, Guandique was removed from his jail cell and brought to the U.S. attorney's office in Washington for questioning by prosecutors and D.C. detectives. He was accompanied by a public defender. Guandique was shown a picture of Chandra. He said the only place he had ever seen her was on television."

Asked if the latest development vindicates the Post's series, Downie said the series was worthwhile even without this expected arrest because it pointed out some police investigation missteps: "It had very high readership. It was to remind the public that the police work raised questions and who might be responsible for this. I think it was a real public service."

He then added, "if it helped get the police moving, that is another public service. I think the series was really good journalism anyway, this just makes me feel better about what we accomplished."

Downie said the series has been submitted for a Pulitzer Prize. With jurors meeting next week to chose Pulitzer finalists, an arrest in the case this week could not be better timed to help boost its profile.

"I don?t know what it will mean," Downie said when asked about the Pulitzer possibilities. "I'll wait to see what happens."