Police Charge Man In May 2024, Southeast, Strangulation Death Of Toddler
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 2:05 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- Yesterday, following an investigation, a 31-year-old Washington, D.C., man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with the alleged strangulation death of a 3-year-old girl back in May of 2024 in Southeast, D.C.
According to D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, and as previously reported on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, members of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s First District responded to a 911 Emergency Call reporting an unresponsive female toddler inside a common hallway of an apartment building located on the 1400 Block of L Street in Southeast, D.C.
Police Find 3-Year-Old Zy’Onne Forney Unresponsive
Upon arrival, Police Officers located the child, identified as 3-year-old Zy’Onne Forney of Southeast, D.C., lying in the hallway unresponsive. The child was transported by DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services to a nearby hospital, where, despite life-saving efforts, Zy’Onne succumbed to her injury and was pronounced deceased a short time later.
During the ensuing investigation, the Office of the D.C. Chief Medical Examiner ruled Zy’Onne’s death a homicide. Following a year-long investigation, Detectives of the Homicide Branch identified James Crawley, 31, of Southeast, D.C., as the individual responsible for Zy’onne’s death. Although the Police did not release the relationship between Zy’onne and Crawley or a motive for the child’s death, they did report that the death was domestic-related.
Accordingly, on Monday, November 3, 2025, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Crawley. Following being taken into custody, Crawley was formally charged with multiple counts, including first-degree Murder; Felony Murder, and Cruelty to Children.
Crawley was processed on the charges and was remanded to the D.C. Central Detention Facility pending future court proceedings in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
