A Wrap Up of the News Week in Bethesda: March 14- March 20

This week, the Bethesda community was stunned yet again by a twist in the Lululemon case that lead to the of an attack that left employee Jayna Murray dead.

The initial version of events, in which two masked men followed two store employees inside and left many that such a violent and seemingly random attack could happen in the heart of Bethesda. Police said at a Thursday press conference that the story originated from Norwood, but after days of following the evidence, her story started to unravel. Police found evidence in Murray’s car – which Norwood had moved from near the store several blocks away to a parking lot on Wisconsin Avenue – and only two sets of footprints inside the store, one belonging to Norwood and another belonging to a size 14 shoe that belonged to the store. There was also no evidence that either woman was sexually assaulted, police said.

Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told reporters Friday that several days ago, he believed the crime was likely random. Police had even developed a “person of interest” several witnesses had placed in downtown Bethesda the night of the crime, and police had placed the person under surveillance. That person is no longer of interest in the crime, Manger said.

For a week, Bethesda residents and businesses contributed to a reward fund for information leading to a capture of assailants, and talked about ways to prevent a similar crime from happening again.

Norwood’s arrest Friday left many “breathing easier,” County Councilman Roger Berliner (D- Dist. 1) said at a press conference. “Bethesda remains an incredibly safe and vibrant place,” Berliner said.

Also on Friday, Jayna Murray was Her funeral was held Saturday in her home state of Texas.