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| Maryland Man Is Convicted in Death of Worker Digging Tunnels Under His House | Maryland Man Is Convicted in Death of Worker Digging Tunnels Under His House |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man was found guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday for the death in 2017 of a worker he had hired to dig tunnels for a secret nuclear bunker under his house in Maryland. | A man was found guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday for the death in 2017 of a worker he had hired to dig tunnels for a secret nuclear bunker under his house in Maryland. |
| After more than a day of deliberation, a jury in Montgomery County found that the man, Daniel L. Beckwitt, 27, was responsible for the death of the worker, Askia Khafra, 21, who had been carving out hundreds of feet of passageways under Mr. Beckwitt’s home in Bethesda, Md., northwest of Washington. | After more than a day of deliberation, a jury in Montgomery County found that the man, Daniel L. Beckwitt, 27, was responsible for the death of the worker, Askia Khafra, 21, who had been carving out hundreds of feet of passageways under Mr. Beckwitt’s home in Bethesda, Md., northwest of Washington. |
| A fire broke out during the work, and when firefighters arrived, they discovered Mr. Khafra’s “naked, charred body” in the basement, and a hole in the floor that dropped about 20 feet down and fanned out into tunnels spanning about 200 feet underground, according to court documents. The state medical examiner determined that the cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. | A fire broke out during the work, and when firefighters arrived, they discovered Mr. Khafra’s “naked, charred body” in the basement, and a hole in the floor that dropped about 20 feet down and fanned out into tunnels spanning about 200 feet underground, according to court documents. The state medical examiner determined that the cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. |
| Mr. Beckwitt was indicted last May on charges of second-degree murder, which in Maryland carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and involuntary manslaughter, which can be punished by up to 10 years in prison. On Wednesday, the jury found him guilty of both. | Mr. Beckwitt was indicted last May on charges of second-degree murder, which in Maryland carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and involuntary manslaughter, which can be punished by up to 10 years in prison. On Wednesday, the jury found him guilty of both. |
| Robert C. Bonsib, Mr. Beckwitt’s lawyer, said he planned to appeal the decision after sentencing, which was scheduled for June 17. | |
| Mr. Bonsib has said that his client had been “concerned about the increase in international tensions, and in particular North Korea’s acquisition of long-range ballistic missiles” when he decided to start building a “secure location for himself” at his Maryland home. | Mr. Bonsib has said that his client had been “concerned about the increase in international tensions, and in particular North Korea’s acquisition of long-range ballistic missiles” when he decided to start building a “secure location for himself” at his Maryland home. |
| Mr. Khafra posted a photograph of himself, underground and wearing safety gear, on social media while he was doing the work. | Mr. Khafra posted a photograph of himself, underground and wearing safety gear, on social media while he was doing the work. |
| Prosecutors said that while working in the excavation in September 2017, Mr. Khafra detected a smoky smell and sent a text message about it to Mr. Beckwitt, who tried flipping a circuit breaker. Court documents said the house was as “maintained in ‘hoarder’ conditions (immense piles of garbage and discarded items strewn throughout the home) with narrow mazelike pathways throughout.” | Prosecutors said that while working in the excavation in September 2017, Mr. Khafra detected a smoky smell and sent a text message about it to Mr. Beckwitt, who tried flipping a circuit breaker. Court documents said the house was as “maintained in ‘hoarder’ conditions (immense piles of garbage and discarded items strewn throughout the home) with narrow mazelike pathways throughout.” |
| The documents added that “the substantial electrical needs of the underground tunnel complex were served by a haphazard daisy-chain of extension cords and plug extenders that created substantial risk of fire,” and that Mr. Beckwitt was aware of an increased fire risk in the hours before the blaze. | The documents added that “the substantial electrical needs of the underground tunnel complex were served by a haphazard daisy-chain of extension cords and plug extenders that created substantial risk of fire,” and that Mr. Beckwitt was aware of an increased fire risk in the hours before the blaze. |
| “This was a difficult case,” John McCarthy, the state’s attorney for Montgomery County, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday night. “This is not your normal kind of homicide.” | |
| “By creating the conditions that he did and not caring enough to provide a way out for Askia Khafra, Daniel Beckwitt is responsible for that young man’s death,” he added. “And we are satisfied the jury agreed. Justice is served for the family, friends and loved ones of Askia.” | |
| Mr. Bonsib has said that Mr. Beckwitt tried to rescue Mr. Khafra from the fire but was overcome by the smoke and was later hospitalized for facial burns and smoke inhalation. | |
| “This is a very unfortunate result in a case where a fine young man tried to save his friend from what everyone conceded was an accidental fire,” Mr. Bonsib said after the verdict was delivered. | |
| “Unfortunately, the severe hoarding conditions in the residence, conditions that existed from the time Mr. Beckwitt was a youngster, clearly affected the jury and we believe were a substantial reason why the jury returned the verdict it did.” | |
| Court documents said that Mr. Beckwitt went to great effort to keep his underground bunker secret. On some occasions he gave Mr. Khafra a ride from Silver Spring, Md., to the house in Bethesda but had him wear blackout glasses so he would not know exactly where he was working. | Court documents said that Mr. Beckwitt went to great effort to keep his underground bunker secret. On some occasions he gave Mr. Khafra a ride from Silver Spring, Md., to the house in Bethesda but had him wear blackout glasses so he would not know exactly where he was working. |
| Mr. Beckwitt did not testify at his trial, which lasted for almost two weeks. |