Daniel Beckwitt sentenced in fiery nuclear bunker death of worker Askia Khafra
Daniel Beckwitt – a 28-year-old Maryland man described by prosecutors as an eccentric millionaire computer hacking stock trader – was sentenced to nine years in prison yesterday after being found guilty of “second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Askia Khafra, 21, who was found “naked” and “charred” in the burnt-out basement of [Beckwitt’s] Bethesda, Maryland, residence,” according to CNN.
Beckwitt had hired Khafra to help him dig out an underground tunneling system underneath his house to serve as a nuclear bunker to safeguard him against missile strikes from North Korea.
On September 10, 2017, at approximately 4:23 p.m., police from Montgomery County along with Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the report of a fire at Beckwitt’s Danbury Road residence. During the investigation, Khafra was located deceased in the basement of the home. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that the cause of Khafra’s death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
Beckwitt was arrested in connection with Khafra ‘s death on May 25, 2018 in Burke, Virginia. Assisting in this arrest were members of the Fairfax County Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. By May 30, 2018, Beckwitt had been extradited to Montgomery County for his first court appearance. He was ultimately found guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Yesterday at his sentencing hearing, Beckwitt appeared remorseful as he apologized to the parents of the young man whose body was found “charred beyond recognition” beneath his suburban Maryland home.
“If there was something I could do to bring Askia back — anything — I would jump at that chance,” said Beckwitt. “I most certainly did not intend for any of this to happen.” ~ Fox News
The Montgomery County judge could have sentenced Beckwitt to a maximum of 30 years behind bars. He was only sentenced to 21 years, with all but nine years suspended.
~ Written by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
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- Human bones found in Lantana confirmed to be the remains of missing Jenna Jacobsen
