La Plata, MD – The former Prince George’s County police officer charged as an accomplice in the first-degree murder of Robert Mange and the attempted first-degree murder of Krystal Mange May 20, 2015, was found guilty Jan. 11 of 10 of 12 charges against him, including attempted first-degree murder of Krystal Mange, his former girlfriend.
Richard Travess Conway, 27 of Waldorf, was found not guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder of Robert Mange. He was found guilty of three counts of felony use of a firearm to commit a violent crime; attempted first-degree murder of Krystal Mange; Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder; first-degree assault; and four counts of reckless endangerment.
The jury rendered its verdict Wednesday after one full day of deliberation.
Conway’s mother, Caroline Marie Conway, 53 of Waldorf, was convicted in the shooting death of Robert Mange Dec. 20.
A case prompted by what Charles County States Attorney Tony Covington called “a custody dispute on steroids,” the week-and-a-half long trial concluded one of the saddest cases in recent memory. In the end, jurors had to decide if Conway—a former Prince George’s County deputy—had worked in tandem with his mother in plotting the shooting at Rock ‘N’ Roll McDonald’s at Mall Circle in Waldorf.
Covington and Charles County Assistant States Attorney Francis Granados hammered away at the jury with a voluminous amount of evidence, including in this case what was perhaps more relevant than in his mother’s case–the cell phone records tracking the defendant’s calls the night of the murder.
Jurors listened to a video of Det. Young J. Austin questioning Conway the evening of May 20 2015, where the defendant could be heard telling the detective that his mother went for a walk. But that interview—a key piece of evidence for the state—revealed what Granados called “little grains of truth among the lies” in his closing arguments.
Conway brought up that his service weapon was used in the shooting—a fact that he had not been told before the interview—to Det. Austin, and the officer called him on it.
Granados told the jury that the defendant and his mother “didn’t drive around looking at houses” as they alleged in their alibi, but instead he pointed to video from the Gales’ residence in Hughesville, where Caroline Conway confessed to the shooting. That video shows evidence in the case: the Smith & Wesson M&P 40 used in the shooting, a “burner phone” Conway talked an unsuspecting young friend into purchasing for him, and clothing worn by Conway’s mother during the shooting. That video was the last time any of those items were seen. They have never been found.
The prosecutor argued that the Conways used that gap of time after the murder disposing of the evidence that they certainly knew would convict them if it was ever found. He traced phone call by phone call, where the defendant and his mother went after the shooting had occurred.
“This murder couldn’t have been committed without him,’ Granados stated, claiming Conway provided the murder weapon, the getaway car, planned it and then disposed of the evidence.
“The state’s case is very tempting,” Defense Attorney C.T. Wilson told the jury. “That verdict asks nothing of you.”
Granados, however, said that Conway had told Krystal Mange on more than one occasion, “I will kill you.”
Charles County Circuit Court Visiting Judge Eric Nyce set a sentencing date of April 21. Caroline Conway’s sentencing is set for March 24.
As the verdict was reaffirmed by the court, Conway buried his head in his hands and wept.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com
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