JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The former boyfriend of a chief petty officer was arrested Friday, according to jail records, months after the Navy woman was found dead in her home on Jacksonville's Northside.
Danny Ray Beard, 36, has been charged in the murder of Andrea Washington, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Beard made his first court appearance Saturday, and will be held without bond until his next court date set for Dec. 31.
An injunction filed on Sept. 4 stated that Beard pushed Washington, 37, to the floor, kicked her in the stomach and threatened her with a gun during an argument over bills.
Police said Washington was found dead inside her home on Sept. 17, hours before a hearing was scheduled on a protective order against her boyfriend. Washington was set to deploy the following Wednesday aboard the USS Hue City.
According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, JSO found several live bullets near her body, and sent them off to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for processing. Six DNA profiles were found on the bullets and the FDLE said it was 490,000 times more likely that the DNA was that of Beard and two of the other contributors, the warrant states.
JSO also tracked Beard’s cellphone activity, which placed him at Washington’s home during the time of Washington’s murder, according to the warrant. Beard had previously told police he wasn’t at her home that night.
Police said Beard had lived with Washington, but he moved out two weeks before she was killed.
Neighbors who lived near Washington said they feel a sense of relief that an arrest has been made.
"I think that eases the tensions of everyone in the neighborhood," said neighbor Michael Pomante. "We're just hopeful that justice is served and they can find some closure."