Friday, April 14, 2006; B04

CRIME

The death of a 63-year-old woman whose body was found in the trash bin of her apartment complex in Northwest Washington has been ruled a homicide, D.C. police said.

A worker found the body of Marcella Tilghman in the bin in the basement of her apartment complex Feb. 6, police said. It appeared that she had fallen down a trash chute in the building in the 5200 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, police said.

At the time, police said there were no visible signs of foul play. Police now say the D.C. medical examiner has determined that Tilghman was beaten to death. Police have made no arrests.

-- Del Quentin Wilber

A 25-year-old man suspected of robbing several women in the Capitol Hill area was arrested by D.C. police yesterday morning after he led them on a brief high-speed chase, authorities said.

Gary Brown, of the 1800 block of Burke Street SE, was charged with robbery and assaulting police officers, police said.

Brown was spotted by police about 9 a.m. driving a burgundy Plymouth at 17th and East Capitol streets SE. He struck one officer's car and led police on a chase that wound through alleys and side streets. The pursuit ended in the 200 block of 16th Street SE, where Brown was arrested, police said.

Police said Brown is suspected of robbing several women, including an 81-year-old, of their purses and wallets this week and last week while they were walking in Capitol Hill. The robberies generally occurred between 7:30 a.m. and noon, police said.

-- Del Quentin Wilber

Police yesterday released a photograph of a missing 79-year-old man who was last seen late Monday afternoon as he left his home in the 2400 block of 25th Street SE.

George Elliott, who is 5-foot-7 and weighs about 135 pounds, was wearing green pants and a green shirt when last seen. Police said Elliott could be disoriented and is in need of medication. They urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 202-727-9099.

-- Del Quentin Wilber

Leaders from a spectrum of faiths will address the importance of taking action to deal with global warming in a discussion next week the day before Earth Day.

The Earth Day Network and Interfaith Power and Light will host the discussion at the AARP Broadcast Center at 601 E St. NW on April 21, from 3 to 5 p.m.

The panel will focus on the clergy's growing commitment to the topic of environmental stewardship.

It will include the Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals; the Rev. Alida M. DeCoster of the Unitarian Universalist Association Washington office; Rabbi Daniel Swartz, coordinator for Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light; and Imam Yahya Hendi, the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University.

-- Petula Dvorak