I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD NOT RUSH TO JUDGEMENT. I HATE THAT HEADLINES READ CONCERNING HIS PERSONAL LIFE. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FACTS. WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE THIS MAN PERIOD. I HOPE THE PERPETRATOR(S) ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THIS MAN HAD SO MUCH PROMISE AND GOOD FOR SOCIETY. I WISHED I HAD KNOWN HIM. TO HIS FATHER, WIFE AND SONS--REMEMBER HIM WELL--HE WAS INDEED A GOOD MAN!!!!

Posted by: ROSHELLE at December 27, 2003 03:15 PM

I agree with Rochelle, people should not judge Jonathan Luna. None of us are perfect, first we don't know why he was killed. Even if it turns out he was having an affair, no one deserves to be murdered over it.

Posted by: Anne at January 9, 2004 08:54 AM

I'm a high school student in Virginia and when I heard the news of Mr. Luna's death i was greatly bothered by it. I didnt know him but I want to become a prosecutor when I graduate. Its so devestating when things of these sort happen. I pray for the family members of Mr. Luna and that God will look over them because all of Virginia has them in their prayers. And I hope that the FBI is doing everything they can to find out what happened because I find myself crying almost everynight about it. It's so unfair that his life was taken and based on what details that the FBI released about how he was killed I know he suffered. But hopefully he's in a better place. Rest In Peace Mr. Jonathan Luna! You are missed!
I feel that judging him after he died such a gruesome death is just wrong and it seems like their trying to throw dirt on his name and position. I feel that they should look into more pockets of his life than his personal personal life. I pray justice will be served for him.

Posted by: at January 9, 2004 09:11 PM

I'm a high school student in Virginia and when I heard the news of Mr. Luna's death i was greatly bothered by it. I didnt know him but I want to become a prosecutor when I graduate. Its so devestating when things of these sort happen. I pray for the family members of Mr. Luna and that God will look over them because all of Virginia has them in their prayers. And I hope that the FBI is doing everything they can to find out what happened because I find myself crying almost everynight about it. It's so unfair that his life was taken and based on what details that the FBI released about how he was killed I know he suffered. But hopefully he's in a better place. Rest In Peace Mr. Jonathan Luna! You are missed!
I feel that judging him after he died such a gruesome death is just wrong and it seems like their trying to throw dirt on his name and position. I feel that they should look into more pockets of his life than his personal personal life. I pray justice will be served for him.

Posted by: Ray at January 9, 2004 09:12 PM

People are in jail due to the Justice Dept's nappy-headed poster boy's holier-than-thou hypocrisy. Can't say he got what he deserved - no one deserves being murdered like that... but spare us the deifications of the guy! He was a porn downloading, adulterous S.O.B., and he got burned leading his dangerous double life!

Posted by: Get Real at January 12, 2004 06:48 PM

To "Get Real", no one is trying to make Jonathan Luna a saint. He had his flaws, just as we all do. That being said, I can still mourn his death. And those who knew him, said he was a decent and caring person. If he was downloading porn and having extra marital affairs, these would be called sins not crimes. And so far no one, not even the FBI really knows why he was murdered.

Posted by: Anne at January 13, 2004 08:53 PM

Wow! "Get Real" Now your the one acting like an S.O.B I dont really know what gender you are but I bet if you died you wouldnt want no body sitting around talking about nothing but your flaws. Everyone has done things in their lives that they wish they could go back and erase and some hard-hearted, cold blooded people have no remorse. There could be more to Jonathan Luna's death than what the FBI is telling us, you could be his killer for all I know(not saying that you are) but there are all kinds of people out there getting away with all kinds of things and for those who the justice system has done wrong to, I am so sorry. I really dont know what to say except that for you to have all this room to talk and say all this about him you must really be a gift from God because I know no one has never sinned.
Really no one is trying to paint of mural of him being Jesus we just want him to rest in peace and if making sure his private life is none of our business and helps us cope with his death then so be it dont hate on us for doing our thing, Do You! But I'm with Anne on this!!

Posted by: Becca at January 14, 2004 03:32 PM

Everybody paints this creep like a harmless valiant justice seeker rescuing cats out of trees. The childhood of most prosecutors was spent torturing insects and small animals. A lot of prosecutors do extremely shady things to mess up peoples' lives so they can get in the paper. This guy has the power to have your entire house bugged, phone tapped and a GPS tracking device in your car (when he's not downloading piss movies)to fish for stuff to hang your ass with. He can trick a judge to give him permission to install a camera in your bathroom so he can watch you take a shit. They invade our private lives but cover up their own shady ass lives.

Posted by: Luna Tic at January 19, 2004 11:17 PM

Hey Luna Tic, did you know Mr. Luna personally, or are you basing your opinion on something you experienced. I am sure there are bad prosecutors, just as there are bad people. You should not paint all prosecutors with the same dishonest brush. Yes I am sure there are prosecutors who use all types of technology for shady reasons, but it has also put in jail some pretty bad people. The comment about prosecutors starting out torturing small animals and insects, I think you got it wrong that is how serials killers start out. If the worse thing you can say about Mr. Luna is that he had pornography on his computer and that he had an affair. Then I don't think he fits your description of what a prosecutor is and certainly doesn't deserve your anger. You may not care that he was murdered, that is your right, but the rest is really not necessary.

Posted by: Anne at January 20, 2004 11:00 AM

Im gonna tell you right now Luna Tic that the childhood lives of most prosecutors is not spent tutoring insects and all that other b.s. your talking about. I happen to be a prosecutor why dont you hit tha books ma and put your big mouth to work. Most prosecutors spend their childhood lives defending those who are picked on. And its hard to believe it but there are good people out there. Its such a coincidence that I'm good at what I do. It's people like you who hate on everyone else because you maybe dont have what you want. Hatred is a powerful thing. If there are prosecutors out there doing the things you say they are then God will deal with them. Every dog has his day. So what if he was downloading porn and all that let a boy be a boy.
Anne, Ray, Becca, and Rochelle I respect you all for mourning for him in a respectful way and though he had his negatives you all only looked toward his positives and understand there will always be the bad and the good.

Posted by: Tisha at January 21, 2004 05:21 PM

Yo Luna Tic -seems we reaaly ticked some of these good folks off!

"Really no one is trying to paint of mural of him being Jesus......" must not of watched the same newscasts I did - they about deified him on the spot. Even the Pope wait a few decades before declaring people saints....

"So what if he was downloading porn and all that let a boy be a boy" - there are people doing ten year manitory minimum sentences in federal prison due to this guy - all they where doing was 'just being boys" - please.......

Posted by: Get Real at January 23, 2004 04:25 PM

To Get Real, I don't know if you have been keeping up with this investigation. But some of the things that were originally said about Jonathan Luna, have turned out not to be true. For instance, that he had been stabbed in the genitals, not true. That the area of Lancaster, where Luna's body was found, was known as a place where people went to have sexual affairs. The police chief of Lancaster said that was not true. Also that Luna had been making regular trips to that area, not true. When the FBI showed Luna's picture to some of the managers of the motels in the area, none recognized him. And there was no record of him staying at any of them. Luna had been making trips to PA, but it was to talk with a witness for the drug dealers case he was prosecuting.

It is not about "deifiing" this man. It is about, once again, mourning his death. And I will say it again. THOSE WHO KNEEEEW MR. LUNA, SAID HE WAS A GREAT GUY. Would you have prefered that they had lied, and said he was a SOB. But if you think that they were wrong. Why not ask the people whose daughter was being videotaped while she slept by a neighbor. Or the mexicans whose home was almost burned down, by a man who did not want them living in the neighborhood. Or the people in a neighborhood where crack was being sold. These were the cases that Mr. Luna was the prosecutor on. Now I am not saying that the criminal justice system in this country is perfect. But did it ever occur to you that these men just might have been guilty? Anyway, that is how they pleaded. Oh by the way, the "boys will be boys" comment. I really do hope that you know the diffence between downloading adult pornography and adultery to child stalking, arson and drug dealing.

It must be hard living in your world, no one is alllowed to make mistakes or have any flaws. In other words being a human being. Which is what Jonathan Luna was, A GREAT GUY who had flaws.

Posted by: Anne at January 23, 2004 08:55 PM

Honestly, I thought this site was for those who wanted to voice personal condolences or non-personal condolences of Jonathan Luna's death. It's turned out to be more like an arguement of how you think the man's reputation should be even after his death. Dave, who has the first message on this web page, is sharing a personal experience and allowing Jonathan's personal flaws to not affect how he remembers the man or mourns for him. Anne, who sees he had his flaws (which we all have our own),makes it known that no matter what you say she will let him rest in peace as being a great guy. She even recognizes the fact that this country's criminal justice system is imperfect. With that all established, dont you think we should just leave the man alone? He's deceased, dead, no longer here. All his flaws died along with him and were carried to his grave with him and really dont matter anymore because he's not alive. I'm glad to see that some people allow his flaws to bounce off of them and not disrupt how they go about mourning his death. And to those who dwell on his bad deeds, please just let the man rest in peace, its bad enough he had to live on this hell-hole they call Earth and then be killed so horrifically.

Posted by: Anita at January 24, 2004 11:35 AM

Are you all saying he can do all these things to you because he was an assistant district attorney? He can get your house bugged, phone tapped,etc., etc. because of his job? He used his position to support his addiction to adultery, dowloading porn, etc.?

I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that. I feel that the public shouldn't be allowed to know every little thing unless its okay with the family. Its sad to think that people would want to destroy a man thats dead. And in like 5 years it wont matter anymore because he will be nothing but bones in a casket 6 feet deep.

Posted by: at January 24, 2004 11:57 AM

Leave the poor family alone all of you hateful people(who probably are"GOOD CHRISTIANS spreading the gospel" among other things like their legs). This man died to protect us and our children from criminals. Shame on anyone who attack him because he's being a man and not hurting anybody.

Posted by: at January 31, 2004 03:54 PM

Wow. I cannot believe some of these postings. He was a nice guy. Good dad. And always had a smile and a nice word.

RIP

Posted by: jpk at February 5, 2004 10:38 AM

I knew Jon from law school. Just found out yesterday from another classmate of his death. I can tell all of you that my impressions of Jon from law school are nothing but the best. He was a friend who didn't judge. We are all lessened by his passing but those of us who knew him are better people because of it. Rest in peace Jon, I'll miss you.

Posted by: Friend at February 6, 2004 01:35 PM

Jonathan Luna had prosecuted my brother a few years back for drug trafficing. I wasnt too familiar with the justice system back then and my brother and I were the only surviving members of our family. Mr. Luna made sure I knew everything that was going on and he was the nicest person to me. Instead of being mad at everyone in that courtroom for making my brother serve time I was happy that they were helpng my brother get on the right track.
Mr Luna was really nice to me and kept me smiling even when he knew my brothers case would end up in jail time. On December 9 I was lying in a hospital bed after giving birth to my daughter Janette when I saw on the news about his murder. My brother called me crying asking me had I heard about his death. It was a very hard time for us. Even though some peoples cases went wrong while Mr. Luna was prosecuting them his personality left no room for you to hold a grudge. My brother went back on drugs and died of an overdose on January 21st. I think Jonathan Luna's death had an emotional effect on him (he didnt go back on drugs and die of an ovedose because of it-I dont think). Mr Luna was a great guy and he had a very remarkable personality that no one can forget.
RIP AUSA Jonathan Luna

Posted by: Shaina at February 7, 2004 12:54 PM

I didn't know Jonathan Luna, I have no knowledge of his cases, and I don't know his background. However, I've heard great things about him. I am a law student who aspires to be a prosecuter one day. I want to help perfect our justice system and I believe I've learned from what I heard about Mr. Luna. His death and given me a greater determination to pursue my personal goals. Although I didn't know him, I wish I did. RIP Mr. Luna and God bless the family and allow them strength to sustain in this trying time.

Posted by: Protege at February 11, 2004 03:02 PM

I also knew Jonathan from law school. While we were not close friends, I always found him, pleasant, friendly and interesting to talk to. Ironically, the thing that gave him a special place in my heart was an exceptionally kind note he wrote to me when my husband died suddenly and tragically. I still have that note. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Jonathan Luna was a fine man.

Posted by: Rae at February 12, 2004 07:08 PM

Did anyone hear that the weapon was found? I heard it last night hopefully we will be able to find out who killed such a great man from that. I am so bothered by this situation its so devastating Jonathan Luna was a great person.

Posted by: Nikii at February 12, 2004 07:29 PM

I'm not interested in further tarnishing Jonathan Luna's reputation. He did a fine job of that over the last two years before his death. I object to this line in another post: "dont you think we should just leave the man alone? He's deceased, dead, no longer here. All his flaws died along with him and were carried to his grave with him and really dont matter anymore because he's not alive."
I would agree had he worked in the private sector. But this investigation is being undertaken not only to find out how he died and if others were involved, but also to determine who took the missing $36,000 from another case; whether he had an on-the-job affair with another agent; where the credit-card debt and missing $36,000 was spent; why he left cell phone and glasses in the office; why he had personal encrypted files on his office computer; whether he was being blackmailed; whether he was drug trafficking; had a drug or gambling habit, etc.
Also, you should read the Boston Herald stories about the 25-year conspiracy shenanigans between the Boston FBI, U.S. Attorney's office, organized crime and the Democratic Party for insight. If they can wipe out the New England mafia and Republican party, whack the President's attorney in the White House, or leave a disgruntled Kennedy aide dead in a tidal pond, dumping a little prosecutor in a creek in Penna. is no problem.
I also strongly disagree with families having control over public dissemination of autopsies. As a reporter I covered a murder case in which the autopsy was covered up by the family at the county prosecutor's urging. The prosecutor then bungled the case from capital murder-robbery to accidental sex-related strangling. The killer, who was videotaped driving the victim's car from the scene (that's capital murder), did five years, got out and committed another murder of a gay man.
He would have been out in a year had I not wrote an article expressing his boyfriend's rage at such a short sentence just before the first parole hearing. Parole board told killer don't even apply again until your sentence is up. Family wouldn't cooperate with that story either. You know, the "shame" of having a gay relative, let's keep it hush-hush so that others can die too.
It's possible Luna's mind was unraveling in the months before he died and maybe he did commit suicide. It would be great if his family supplied information based on personal observations to confirm or refute that. If I were a member of his family, I would have my own lawyers and investigators and I definitely would not trust the FBI except to trust that they will do everything in their power to divert responsibility away from their door.
My guess? Luna was once in with the in crowd, then he wasn't, then he became dangerous, then he was dead. Murdered by a criminal who has friends in the FBI.

Posted by: jjmcgo at February 13, 2004 02:03 PM

Jim, I am with you on how you think Luna died because I just dont see how a case can go cold so fast. I basically said that comment because my niece was shot and killed in 1999. People around the way were saying my niece was a prostitute and she got shot by a cop. My niece was at an atm machine cashing her check because she had a baby and the baby needed food. My nieces father hired a private investigator and we found out that the father of my nieces daughter had a brother who worked for the Feds and had the murder ignored.
I feel that when somebody dies a really bad way that we should ignore the bad things and look towards the good things. Who are we to judge another you know? So I was feeling hurt that some people would actually throw out evil things like that though everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Excuse me for my comment.

Posted by: Anita at February 13, 2004 03:52 PM

Any new leads,articles, etc... on the Jonanthan Luna case???

Posted by: at February 19, 2004 04:27 PM

I heard they found the possible murder weapon. They had it on 9news in D.C., MD, and VA. I had said something about it on Feb. 12 but some guy blasted out my comment with a big message so I'm saying it again they found the possible murder weapon!

Posted by: Nikii at February 22, 2004 01:00 PM

For those who live in D.C., MD, and/or Maryland the Jonathan Luna case is gonna be featured on the 11 o'clock news on Channel 9.

Posted by: Nikii at February 26, 2004 03:39 PM

Search uncovers Luna's penknife
Federal prosecutor, 38, was likely stabbed with it, investigators believe

In Depth
Full coverage of Luna murder case

By Gail Gibson
Sun Staff
Originally published February 13, 2004
Authorities probing the mysterious death of Baltimore federal prosecutor Jonathan P. Luna now think the young lawyer likely suffered from stab wounds inflicted with his own pocketknife and are re-examining financial records that may shed more light on the final months of Luna's life.

In a recent recanvassing of the rural Pennsylvania field where Luna's body was found, investigators found a penknife that they believe caused his wounds, according to two federal law enforcement sources. They also said that investigators believe the pocketknife is the one that Luna regularly carried.

Luna was stabbed 36 times and found Dec. 4 facedown in a shallow creek in rural Lancaster County, Pa., where authorities said he drowned. His Honda Accord was nearby, its engine running.

It was not known yesterday whether authorities found fingerprints or blood on the knife, or why the weapon was not discovered during an extensive search of the scene on the day Luna was found.

The discovery of the knife comes as investigators also have sought help analyzing medical and psychological evidence from a well-regarded military forensics unit as they struggle with a new, competing theory about one of the most basic questions in the case: whether Luna was the victim of a homicide or suicide.

In FBI reports over the past month, authorities have raised the possibility that Luna, 38, could have killed himself, according to three law enforcement sources who spoke with The Sun on condition of anonymity. The controversial theory has met sharp skepticism internally, however, by a number of investigators who maintain that the evidence points to homicide.

Officials with the FBI's Baltimore field office, which has headed the investigation, have declined to comment on any of the theories that authorities are pursuing to solve the mystery of Luna's death.

"All I can say is the investigation continues," said Special Agent Barry Maddox, a spokesman for the office.

Luna's boss, Maryland U.S. Attorney Thomas M. DiBiagio, has not commented on the investigation since the night that it began, when he said preliminary evidence suggested Luna had been murdered. Vickie E. LeDuc, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, also declined to comment, as has Luna's family.

The energetic and well-liked young prosecutor, who was married and had two young sons, was due in federal court in downtown Baltimore to conclude a drug case on the day that he was found dead. But investigators found no evidence that his death was related to his work, and instead have closely combed Luna's personal life for clues.

Loan application

In recent days, investigators have again turned their attention to the unsolved disappearance of about $36,000 introduced as evidence in a bank robbery trial that Luna prosecuted in September 2002. Authorities have not linked the missing cash to Luna or to his death, but investigators now are examining a loan application that Luna filled out online about the time of the trial.

The loan application was for about $30,000, and it was canceled not long after the period when the evidence money was discovered missing, according to a federal law enforcement source. Authorities have determined that at the time of his death, Luna had credit card debts of about $25,000 -- and that he had as many as 16 credit card accounts, some that he held without his wife's knowledge.

In addition to financial troubles, Luna also had felt that he was on the outs with his supervisors in the U.S. attorney's office, where he had worked for four years. Several legal sources have said that Luna was concerned he might have to change jobs. DiBiagio has rejected any suggestion that Luna was at risk of being fired.

The highly sensitive question of whether Luna could have killed himself is at the center of a debate among investigators about the direction of the case, as it stretches into a third month with no arrests. To better develop the theory, investigators have asked the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology to examine medical and psychological evidence in the case.

A spokesman for the institute referred all questions about the Luna case to the Baltimore FBI office.

Autopsy findings by the medical examiner in Lancaster County, Pa., have not been made public, and forensic pathologist Dr. Wayne K. Ross, who performed the autopsy, has refused to discuss the case. However, the county's then-coroner, Dr. Barry Walp, said in the first days of the investigation that Luna had suffered a number of shallow "prick" marks on his chest and neck in addition to several deeper, more serious stab wounds.

While rare, there are some high-profile instances of suicides by stabbing, cases frequently marked by so-called "hesitation wounds" that barely penetrate the skin. In 1999, Army officials ruled that a National Guard captain found dead at a Kentucky base with 26 stab wounds to the neck and chest was a suicide, a finding that was disputed by the soldier's family.

More recently, the stabbing death in December of Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter Elliott Smith -- initially thought to be a suicide -- remains an open question after the Los Angeles coroner's office said it could not determine whether stab wounds to Smith's chest were most likely inflicted by him or by someone else.

If authorities conclude that Luna's death was a suicide, the finding could open investigators to allegations that they simply failed to solve the high-profile case.

Already, the case has been marked by competing jurisdictional issues between authorities in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In addition, officials in Washington are investigating whether some supervisors in the FBI's Baltimore office overreached in questioning a female agent in connection with the Luna case, a law enforcement source has told The Sun.

Internal probe

The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility has opened an investigation into whether supervisors improperly questioned an agent who had worked on several cases with Luna about her personal life and told her to turn over her computer for inspection, the source said.

The internal investigation was first reported Wednesday evening by CBS News.

A federal law enforcement official said yesterday that there has been no finding in the internal probe and emphasized that investigators never considered the agent a suspect in Luna's death -- "nor have they developed any suspect," the source said.

In Luna's case, sources have described evidence that appears to run counter to a suicide theory. Officials have said that some of Luna's wounds appear to be defensive and have said that authorities found evidence of a second blood type in Luna's Honda Accord, possibly from an attacker.

Investigators also found blood on the Pennsylvania Turnpike toll ticket that they believed was turned in in rural Ephrata, Pa., when Luna's car exited the highway on the night he was killed. The ticket suggested to investigators the possibility that someone other than Luna was driving the car when it entered and left the Pennsylvania Turnpike because Luna's car had an EZ Pass card, something a driver unfamiliar with the vehicle might not have known.

In the two months since Luna's death, agents also have pored over Luna's financial records, computer files, phone logs and personal contacts in his Palm Pilot, but none of the information has led authorities to a potential suspect.

Posted by: at February 27, 2004 11:24 PM

I dont think he committed suicide. Regardless of his circumstances alot of people dont committ suicide over finances and knowing the fact that he had young children. I know someone killed him. Its human instinct.

Posted by: at March 2, 2004 03:11 PM

We will never know what happened to Jonathan Luna. Sad right? Its very unfair but the truth will come out at one point. Until then all we can do is pray and believe that justice will be served.

Posted by: Anita at March 7, 2004 02:38 PM

This message is to JIMGCO, I recently read your email. "I am not interested in tarnishing Jonathan Luna's reputation. He did a fine job of that over the last two years before his death". What are you talking about? Everything that I have read about Mr. Luna, from those who knew him, said nothing but nice things about him. If you have some other information, I would be interested in reading it.
The latest news that Mr. Luna killed himself really smells. I find it amazing that he was able to hide his penknife so well. That it took the FBI two months to find it. Especially since he had lost so much blood and was stumbling around in the dark. And let's not forget originally Mr. Luna was supposed to have been killed because he was have sexual affairs. It is really sad that any story concerning Mr. Luna's death also mentions this missing $36,000.00. I truly believe if the final outcome of this pathetic murder investigation is that Jonathan Luna committed suicide. The investigation of the missing $36,000.00 will be closed also. With the assumption that Mr. Luna stole it even if that is not true.
Does anyone know if luminal can be used in this crime scene? I would think it would be helpful to see if Mr Luna was able to walk around, trying to get rid of penknife. Or if blood trail only leads to the stream.

Posted by: Anne at March 8, 2004 05:48 PM

From Saturday's Sun
$100,000 reward offered in Luna case
Suicide one of 3 theories in death of prosecutor, investigators say

By Gail Gibson and Gus G. Sentementes
Sun Staff
Originally published March 12, 2004, 8:57 PM EST
Authorities probing the mysterious death of Baltimore federal prosecutor Jonathan P. Luna acknowledged publicly for the first time Friday that they are exploring whether Luna's multiple stab wounds were inflicted by his own hand rather than that of a murderous attacker.

"The fact is, the task force is looking at every possible scenario," Pennsylvania State Police Capt. Steven McDaniel said at an afternoon news conference in Baltimore.

"We would be remiss if we ignored any possible basis for Mr. Luna's death."

Breaking three months of silence, Baltimore FBI officials and Pennsylvania authorities released a detailed account of Luna's travels on the night he died and asked the public for help filling in two roughly 90-minute gaps in the timeline.

Officials also announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the "resolution of the investigation" into the lawyer's death.

Luna, 38, had 36 stab wounds on his body when he was found Dec. 4 face down in a shallow creek in rural Lancaster County, Pa. His Honda Accord was nearby with its engine still running. Authorities say the cause of death was drowning.

Luna's parents, Paul and Rosezella Luna, welcomed the news of the reward. But at their Columbia home Friday, Paul Luna said he was "frustrated and sad" at the lack of leads in the investigation. He disputed the notion that his son, who was married with two young sons, would commit suicide.

"It's very hard to believe that Jonathan is going to kill himself because four days before he died, he reminded me we had a date to go to Washington D.C. the following week" to take care of paperwork for a trip to the Philippines, Paul Luna said.

Death theories

When Luna's body was first discovered, authorities said preliminary evidence suggested he was killed.

But Kevin Perkins, special agent in charge of the Baltimore FBI office, and McDaniel said Friday that investigators have not determined whether the death should be classified as a homicide, suicide or the result of a random violent act.

The question of whether Luna could have killed himself first was raised in FBI reports in January and has been the subject of internal debate among the team of investigators since. The Sun first reported last month that authorities were weighing the suicide theory.

"We're fully pursuing three avenues, and we're actively pursuing all of those," Perkins said Friday. He added that investigators did not have a leading theory: "There really isn't one that is getting more resources or more weight."

McDaniel said that investigators have conducted more than 700 interviews, reviewed reams of computer data and examined more than 100 court cases related to Luna's work as an assistant U.S. attorney in Baltimore, a job he had held for the past four years.

McDaniel confirmed that investigators had found evidence of Luna's blood on a Pennsylvania Turnpike toll ticket that they believed was turned in at the Reading/Lancaster exit when Luna's car exited the highway on the night he died.

But authorities declined Friday to discuss any other evidence in the case, including the discovery in January of a penknife that law enforcement sources have said appears to be the weapon that caused Luna's wounds.

Investigators also believe the pocketknife is the one that Luna regularly carried, sources have said.

The toll ticket, discovered in December, was a key piece of evidence for investigators -- and one that appears to run counter to a suicide theory.

The ticket suggested the possibility that Luna already might have been wounded when his car left the highway.

It also raised the question of whether someone else was driving because Luna's Accord had an EZ Pass card, which allows drivers to enter the turnpike without taking a toll ticket -- something a driver unfamiliar with the vehicle might not have known.

Timeline

Without elaboration, officials said Friday that evidence in the case indicated that Luna "had contact with someone" between the time he left his office on Dec. 3 and when he was found dead at 5:30 the next morning.

Luna, an energetic young lawyer, was due in federal court in Baltimore to conclude a drug trial on the day he was found dead. But investigators have found no evidence that his death was related to his work and instead have closely combed Luna's personal life for clues.

The timeline released by officials Friday begins at 11:38 p.m. on Dec. 3, when Luna left the federal courthouse in Baltimore. It notes a stop in Delaware where he reportedly withdrew $200 from an ATM. Also noted is a stop at a King of Prussia, Pa., gas station where his credit card was used to pay for gasoline.

Authorities were focused on two gaps in the timeline.

The first is between 12:57 a.m. on Dec. 4, when Luna made the ATM stop in Newark, Del., and 2:37 a.m., which is when his vehicle got on the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 6A -- a distance that can be driven in 45 minutes.

The second gap is from 4:04 a.m., when Luna's car exited the Pennsylvania Turnpike, until 5:30 a.m., when his body was found.

Authorities in Baltimore began searching for Luna at about 9:30 that morning, when he failed to appear for the expected guilty pleas of defendants Deon L. Smith and Walter Poindexter, who had been accused of dealing heroin from the Hampden recording studio of their upstart rap music label.

Both men were sentenced Friday before U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr.

During the hearings, Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Warwick recommended some leniency in their sentence because of the "substantial assistance" they provided in the first hours Luna was missing, helping authorities determine his death was not related to the case.

Smith received a sentence of 110 months; Poindexter received 168 months and, at the end of his hearing, offered his condolences for the prosecutor's death.

"I just want to offer my condolences to Jonathan Luna and his family, and everybody who was affected by his death," Poindexter said.

Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun

Posted by: at March 12, 2004 11:11 PM

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
If you are of this earth, pardon children, and claim to be free from some sort of sin ,or faults, then you are lying.
There before the grace of God go I.
Do not judge, walk a mile in my shoes.
Let this man who was highly respected , well liked, and deeply mourned rest in peace. No one has the right to say anything negative about him, those that do are just sadly miserable, ,un attractive people with no lives, who prefer to spread ugliness instead of joy . They are not worth the time of day.I say ignore their comments.

Posted by: marilyn at March 16, 2004 02:48 PM

Marilyn, those were some really encouraging and comforting words you speak. A lot of us who are trying to defend Jonathan Luna have been trying to say those same words. You are preaching to the choir girl!

Posted by: at March 21, 2004 01:18 PM