True Crime Garage: Robert Wone Murder Case – Part 2 of 4

Hosts: Nick and The Captain
Release Date: November 27, 2024

Introduction to the Case

In Part 2 of their four-part series on the Robert Wone murder, hosts Nick and The Captain delve deeper into the intricate details of the case, examining relationships, evidence, and the investigative process that has left many questions unanswered.

Background and Relationships

Robert Wone, a graduate of the College of William and Mary (1996) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School (1999), was murdered in 2006. The trio of suspects—Joseph Price, Victor Zabarski, and Dylan Ward—shared a complex relationship with Robert.

Nick [03:13]: "As you heard in episode one, there is a lot of question marks in this case and we're going to go through as many of those as we possibly can and try to hit every single one of them."

Robert met Joseph Price during his college years, and they maintained a friendship until Robert's untimely death. Joseph, who was in a committed relationship with Victor Zabarski in 2001 and later with Dylan Ward in 2003, became a housemate alongside Victor and Dylan. The dynamics within this household are crucial in understanding the possible motives and interactions leading up to the murder.

The Captain [04:12]: "What we do know is that on more than one occasion, when questioned by police, they referred to themselves as family."

The Night of the Murder

On the night of the murder, Robert was found dead in the townhouse on Swan Street. The initial response and subsequent investigation revealed several inconsistencies:

• EMT Observations: The EMTs pronounced Robert dead upon arrival, noting that he appeared "cold to the touch," suggesting he had been deceased for some time before their arrival.

  The Captain [05:30]: "Basically the EMTs are saying, well, we believe Robert was dead when we got there."

• Behavior of the Suspects: Joseph was the only one actively communicating with law enforcement, while Victor and Dylan remained quiet, often whispering among themselves.

  The Captain [06:16]: "Joe is the only one that's really talking to law enforcement... he was giving them looks like, shut up, let me do the talking."

• Delayed 911 Call: A neighbor reported hearing a scream before 11:30 AM, but the 911 call was placed at 11:49 AM, indicating a possible 19-minute delay in reporting the incident.

  Nick [07:36]: "If in fact that is true, then that means that the men inside the home waited 19 minutes to make that phone call."

Investigative Challenges and Theories

The hosts discuss the challenges faced by law enforcement during the investigation:

• Intruder Theory vs. Housemates' Involvement: The prosecution leaned towards the intruder theory, citing the lack of forced entry and no items stolen. However, inconsistencies in the suspects' statements and the absence of blood spatter evidence raised doubts.

  Nick [24:20]: "There's no signs of forced entry, and... nobody stole anything from the home either. So... it's difficult to not lock in or start going, well, maybe one or all of these guys did it."

• Relationship Dynamics: The interplay between the suspects, especially Joseph's role as a lawyer and his relationships with both Victor and Dylan, adds complexity to the case. The possibility of motives related to personal or professional conflicts is explored.

  The Captain [17:02]: "But what's confusing though to me is we know people knew that Joe and Victor were married. I don't think everybody in their social circle knew that Dylan had a relationship with Joe."

• Missing Evidence: The missing knife from Dylan's room and the questionable handling of evidence, such as the limited blood on the found knife and the absence of fingerprints or DNA, suggest potential tampering or alternative scenarios.

  Nick [46:19]: "The other thing that I think, and I might be wrong here... the stab marks on the knife are too long, that one of those wounds would have been deeper. Experts say, it would be nearly impossible for somebody to replicate the same stab using this knife because it's too long."

Critical Analysis of Evidence

Nick and The Captain critically analyze the physical evidence:

• Knife as the Murder Weapon: The knife found on the nightstand had blood and hair but lacked fingerprints or DNA from another individual, casting doubt on its role as the murder weapon.

  The Captain [51:32]: "There's a knife missing from Dylan's room... they used it on Robert and then concealed it or managed to get rid of it before we were able to search the home."

• Minimal Blood Evidence: The limited blood spatter contradicts the severity of the stabbing, suggesting either an intruder who was meticulous or the possibility that Robert was already deceased prior to the stabbing.

  Nick [49:15]: "If somebody comes in and stabs someone... you have blood spatter on probably walls or sheets or elsewhere within that room."

• Lack of Forced Entry: Despite the house being equipped with security measures, there was no forced entry, leading to questions about how an intruder could have accessed the home without leaving evidence.

  The Captain [22:19]: "There's an eight-foot fence... it doesn't seem like likely that somebody would have jumped the fence."

Alternative Theories and Speculations

The hosts explore alternative theories beyond the intruder hypothesis:

• Targeted Hate Crime: Given Joseph's role as a gay rights attorney, the possibility of the murder being a targeted hate crime is considered.

  The Captain [40:39]: "Is there somebody that saw Joe in the newspaper?... looking at their relationship... maybe somebody in that area sees him and becomes the target."

• Internal Conflicts: Personal disputes, such as disagreements over business matters like milk advertisements, are speculated as potential motives.

  The Captain [42:08]: "Victor was the point person of milk... maybe somebody out there is like, you know what... I'm going to stab you too."

Conclusion and Ongoing Questions

As Part 2 concludes, Nick and The Captain highlight the unresolved aspects of the case, emphasizing the need for further investigation and evidence to provide clarity.

Nick [62:50]: "I think he was dead before those stab wounds were even administered."

The Captain [63:25]: "Steve worked this case for years getting to the bottom of what really happened."

Recommended Listening:
For listeners seeking a broader perspective on complex true crime cases, the hosts recommend "The Burden Empire on Blood" podcast by award-winning journalist Steve Fishman, which explores a double homicide in the Bronx.

Stay Tuned:
Join Nick and The Captain in Part 3 of this series as they continue unraveling the mystery surrounding Robert Wone's tragic death.

Note: This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the key discussions and insights shared by the hosts during the episode.