In the early hours of July 10, 2016, Seth Rich, a 27-year-old Jewish man who worked for the Democratic National Committee, was walking home in his Bloomingdale neighborhood in Washington, D.C. He had been at a local sports pub and was on the phone with his girlfriend as he made his way back to his apartment. The call ended abruptly after she heard other voices on his end.
Shortly after, at approximately 4:20 a.m., an automated police gunfire locator detected shots.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Seth conscious but with two gunshot wounds to his back. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died less than two hours later. Investigators noted that while he had been shot, his wallet, credit cards, and watch had not been taken from him. His mother later revealed that there were signs of a physical altercation; his hands, knees, and face were bruised.
The Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case as a homicide, suspecting it was the result of an attempted robbery that had gone wrong. The neighborhood had reportedly been experiencing a series of robberies at the time. Despite the official theory, the fact that none of his valuables were stolen has left lingering questions for his family.
To this day, the murder of Seth Rich remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made in connection with his death, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case has since gone cold, leaving behind a mystery and unanswered questions about the final moments of the young DNC staffer's life.
