The Murder of Yale Student, Annie Le

I watched an episode of See No Evil for this case. It’s season 6 episode 14, titled ‘Cold Feet.’ This case is about a very smart young woman, who was just about to get married and start her life when she was tragically killed at just 24 years old.

Background

Annie Le was born on July 3, 1985 in San Jose, California. She was described as being a very smart young woman, and was even valedictorian at her high school. Before attending Yale, she got her undergraduate degree in cell developmental biology at the University of Rochester in New York. While attending school, she met the man who would soon become her fiancé, a man named Jonathan Widawsky. They set their wedding date for September 13, 2009.

Annie Le

Annie and her fiancé, Jonathan.

Murder

Annie was studying pharmacology and she worked in a lab that monitored effects of different medicines on mice. On the episode of See No Evil, she was seen walking into the building on Amistad Street, at 10:09am. She would never leave the building again. She would also leave behind her cell phone, keys, credit cards and money. This was on September 8, 2009.

One of her roommates called the police to report her missing around 9pm the same night.

The police stated before they began the investigation that Annie must have gotten cold feet, hence the title, and ran away so that she didn’t have to get married. They would soon learn that this wouldn’t be the case.

Investigation

The first police search began on September 12. The police found bloody clothing in the ceiling. They marked the building as a crime scene. The following day, on what would be Annie’s wedding day, the police described an odor as being a smell of decomposition. The police brought in cadaver dogs, and Annie was soon found.

Annie’s body was found inside a wall, her body was upside down. She also had one white sock, that matched the other sock that was stuffed in the ceiling. Her body was also described as being “unrecognizable.” As if this young woman hadn’t been through enough, they also found that her bra was pushed up, her underwear was pushed down to her ankles and there was semen inside her underwear.

Her autopsy stated that her cause of death was traumatic asphyxiation by neck compression. She also had a broken jaw, and broken collar bone. The medical examiner said she would have gotten these injuries while she was alive.

The police also discovered that students or staff members who work in this building could only enter using ID cards, and that it would have been hard to get passed security. They soon focused on a student, and another man who worked at the building, but soon only had one suspect.

Raymond Clark

Raymond Clark and Annie

The man the police focused on as their suspect, was a lab technician named Raymond Clark. He didn’t attend Yale, but worked in the lab in a “custodial function.”

On September 17, his DNA came back as matching the DNA found on Annie’s body.

On the episode of See No Evil, the police said that their theory for why he killed her, was that Raymond had a crush on Annie. Annie had reportedly sent an email to others that she worked with the day she went missing about how she was getting married, and wouldn’t be at work for a few days to enjoy her honeymoon. The theory is that Raymond killed her because he was jealous.

Arrest and Conviction

Raymond Clark initially pleaded not guilty, but in March 2011, he pleaded guilty in exchange for a 44 year prison sentence. He also took an Alford plea for sexual assault.

Apparently, at his trial he showed remorse but never stated why he killed Annie.

Raymond Clark at trial

Other

In 2011, Annie’s mom, Vivian Van Le, filed a lawsuit against Yale University. The case was later postponed, and then the case was withdrawn when the two sides couldn’t agree on an amount of money.

Annie’s mother, Vivian on what would have been Annie’s 2nd wedding anniversary.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Raymond Clark is a piece of shit. He murdered an innocent woman who was days away from getting married, and he still hasn’t given his reasons for why he did what he did. He should have given his reasoning if he was soooo remorseful for what he did. I hope he never gets parole, because he has confirmed that he’s a dangerous individual.

I’m so happy that Annie’s family, and her fiancé got the justice for Annie that they deserve.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Annie_Le

https://www.oxygen.com/a-wedding-and-a-murder/why-yale-student-annie-le-murdered-before-wedding

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-yale-murder-lawsuit-settlement-20161122-story.html