Mesa, Joseph Mafnas, jr.

Born deaf in San Francisco into a hearing native Guamese family; family moved back to Guam when he was 3. Transferred to the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in 1996, graduating 1998. Entered the English Language Institute at Gallaudet University that fall, but soon left, suspended by the University for over 1 year for theft of money from fellow students. Returned to Gallaudet as a freshman in Fall 2000. Arrested by DC police on February 13, 2001 as the suspect in the separate murders of two fellow Gallaudet students, Eric F. Plunkett (q.v.) and Benjamin S. Varner (q.v.), Sept. 2000 and Feb. 2001 respectively. The police reported that Mesa had confessed to both crimes, and that they also had convincing physical evidence; motive was said to be robbery for money. He was held without bond, and after repeated delays trial was set for May 2002. Despite attempting a defense of "not guilty by reason of temporary insanity", he was convicted of both murders and, in July 2002, sentenced to life in jail without possibility of parole.