In the late hours of a February night in 2016, a young Black/African American man, Emmanuel J. Gondo, age 21, was found shot to death in his car in South Seattle. The discovery of his body on February 25th, in the driver's seat of a black Jaguar near the intersection of 33rd Avenue South and South Holly Street, marked the tragic end of a life and the beginning of a complex investigation. Gondo had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators quickly determined that his cell phone, wallet, and a gun were missing from the vehicle.
The investigation soon focused on a 16-year-old runaway named Maryanne Atkins. Text messages recovered by police revealed that Atkins had planned to rob Gondo, viewing him as an "easy lick." She was last seen alone with him shortly before midnight. In the days following the murder, Atkins's behavior raised further suspicion. She reportedly posted a picture of herself on Facebook posing with a gun that was likely the murder weapon. She also made a cryptic post stating, "You don't know what I did, you'll see on news." Friends and acquaintances noted that while she couldn't afford a hotel room before Gondo's death, she was looking to buy a car shortly after.
Atkins was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During the investigation, she initially denied her involvement and claimed to have only touched a gun once during a middle school field trip. Prosecutors, however, painted a picture of a calculated and remorseless killer. They presented evidence that she had "coldly" shot Gondo in the head while he was seated in his car and then robbed him.
In December 2018, Maryanne Atkins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. At her sentencing in March 2019, her defense argued for a reduced sentence, citing her troubled youth and immaturity. However, the judge, noting the cruelty of her lies and her lack of remorse during the trial, sentenced the now 19-year-old Atkins to more than 19 years in prison. The courtroom was filled with Gondo's family and friends, who mourned the loss of a young man described as a loving person.
