Decades before conspiracy rumors swirled around the unsolved 2016 murder of Seth Rich who worked for the Democratic National Committee, there was another DC murder that entertained various theories and conspiracies. The bizarre murder of Raymond “Nels” Nelson.
Claiborne Pell was a legend in Rhode Island politics. The former Senator grew up a child of privilege who didn’t like to flaunt his enormous wealth. When he was elected to his first term as a US Senator, he was viewed as a political outsider. Through the help Raymond Nelson, who was a (former bureau chief of the Providence Journal and Evening Bulletin Newspaper) Pell won in an upset. Nelson, was a skilled strategist and campaigner who ended up being the administrative assistant for Pell when he was in Washington DC. He eventually joined the staff of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. In 1976, the married father of three made a controversial decision and came out as a gay man. It damaged him politically but he refused to hide his sexualityfrom the public anymore.
However, things would take a dark turn for the Political Insider when on June 1, 1981, the 59-year-old was found murdered at his apartment at 701 Quincy Street, NE in Washington DC. The former professional typist turned political staffer had been bludgeoned to death with one of his own typewriters in his residence. For years there have been rumors about why he was murdered. Various comments and blog posts on the internet speculate that heavy political pressure play a part as to why the case remains unsolved.
The unsolved murder is still under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. If you have information about this case please call the police at 202 727-9099 or contact them via email at unsolved.murder@dc.gov. Nelson left behind three children and friends and family that are still looking for answers.
For additional information about this case please visit http://www.defrostingcoldcases.com/guest-post-in-loving-memory-raymond-nelson/
(Other Sources include the Providence Journal)
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