By Keith L. Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 10, 2009

A District man charged with killing a Northwest Washington couple in November pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder while armed, a day after he rejected a plea deal and demanded a trial.

Peiro Fuentes Hernandez, 21, told D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael L. Rankin that he had had time "by himself" to think things over and that he wanted to proceed with the plea.

"I'm feeling a lot better," Fuentes Hernandez said. "I understand everything better now."

Fuentes Hernandez is charged in the deaths of Michael Spevak, 68, a psychiatrist, and his wife, Virginia, 67, a former teacher.

A hearing for a suspected accomplice, Angela Hernandez, who is not related, is scheduled for March 20. A third suspect in the case, a man, has not been apprehended.

New details in the slayings that shocked the Chevy Chase neighborhood emerged as Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Sines outlined how the intruders pushed their way into the Spevaks' home in the 5200 block of Belt Road NW, tied them up and then beat and stabbed them.

Sines said that on the evening of Nov. 20, Fuentes Hernandez and two other suspects wanted to "get some money." She said the Spevaks were targeted because Angela Hernandez was friendly with the couple's former foster daughter and once had visited the Spevak house.

Sines said Fuentes Hernandez rang the doorbell. She said he was armed with a metal baton, and another suspect had a knife and a gun.

When Michael Spevak opened the door, the three forced their way inside and began beating him, according to Sines. His wife rushed over as the intruders pushed their way farther inside, Sines said.

They forced Michael Spevak, now bleeding, to identify valuables. Then Fuentes Hernandez tied him to a sofa with two telephone cords, Sines said. The male accomplice tied Virginia Spevak's hands and stuck a cloth in her mouth, then tied her to another sofa, Sines said.

The intruders stole a laptop computer, a cellphone, jewelry and car keys.

"At no time did the Spevaks resist," Sines said. "They told the three to take whatever they wanted."

Out of concern that the Spevaks would recognize Angela Hernandez, Sines said, Fuentes Hernandez beat the Spevaks with his baton while Angela Hernandez stabbed and cut them with a knife.

Then Fuentes Hernandez removed Virginia Spevak's wedding ring and gave it to Angela Hernandez, who slipped it on her finger, Sines said.

According to the prosecutor, the three suspects returned to the Spevak house the next day. Fuentes Hernandez peeked through a rear window to see whether the victims were still alive. Then the suspects stole the couple's 2005 Toyota Scion. The next day, they set the car on fire in an alley.

On Nov. 25, Fuentes Hernandez was interviewed by police and blamed the slayings on Angela Hernandez and the other suspect. On Dec. 19, he admitted his role in the incident. Police found some of the Spevaks' possessions at his home.

Rankin asked Fuentes Hernandez whether he agreed with Sines's account.

"Yes," he replied.

"Did you beat Mr. and Mrs. Spevak to death?" Rankin asked.

"Yes," he said.

Fuentes Hernandez faces at least 10 years in prison and deportation.

He has lived in the District for about a year after fleeing El Salvador in 1998 in the wake of a hurricane. He told police he was a member of the MC Gang, or Master Criminals.