A Fairfax family is expressing outrage over county prosecutors offering a not guilty by reason of insanity plea deal to the suspect in the shooting death of their loved one, insisting that a jury decide the suspect’s fate for a premeditated attack.
Joshua Daniel Danehower, 36, is accused of entering Gret Glyer’s home one night in June 2022 and shooting him 10 times as he slept next to his wife, Heather. The couple’s two children were in the home at the time but were unharmed, as was Ms. Glyer.
Glyer, 32, founded the humanitarian crowdfunding nonprofit DonorSee and was well-known and respected in his Fairfax neighborhood, his family said.
Fairfax County Police investigators said Mr. Danehower had dated Heather Glyer before she married and was trying to reconnect with her when he allegedly killed Glyer.
Police arrested Mr. Danehower on charges of second-degree murder a few days after the slaying while he was on his way to his job at Washington Dulles International Airport.
After he was taken into custody, investigators said the suspect apparently was not taking the situation seriously and asked if he could order a pizza.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office recently announced it intends to offer Mr. Danehower a plea deal of not guilty by reason of insanity in the Glyer slaying.
Glyer’s father, mother and sister publicized a letter they sent to Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shannon in hopes of persuading the judge to reject the anticipated insanity plea.
“The record described in court shows planning,” the family wrote in the letter, dated Jan. 20. “Prosecutors have described a written murder plan, including a map pin tied to Gret’s location, a list of clothing, a note to shoot quickly, and an escape plan that included disposing of clothing. He chose the deep dark of night, entered quietly, carried out the killing, and got away from the scene.”
The letter detailed how the lead prosecutor on the case assured the family that an insanity plea was not on the table.
But that prosecutor was taken off the case for personal misconduct in October, the letter said. The next month, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, led by George Soros-backed prosecutor Steve Descano, informed the family that they were offering Mr. Danehower the insanity plea.
The family said the new prosecutor also urged the Glyers not to submit victim impact statements because it could affect their rights under the Virginia Victims Bill of Rights.
“These shifts and delays have left us feeling misled and shut out of a process that is supposed to seek justice for Gret,” the family wrote. “Nothing prevents the defense from presenting an insanity argument at trial. If they believe it is supported, they should make that case to a jury. Gret’s children deserve to know that the evidence was tested in open court.”
The family stressed that the insanity plea deal for Mr. Danehower to be indefinitely held at a behavioral health facility is flimsy because his diagnosis could improve.
“This annual process, which relies on the whims of psychiatrists and the questionable resolve of the same prosecutors who agreed to this deal, will likely lead to Mr. Danehower serving very little time in confinement for the murder of our son and brother,” the family wrote.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the “Glyer family’s hurt and disappointment is completely valid and more than understandable,” but that medical professionals concluded he has severe mental health issues.
“Our clinical expert found the defendant to be legally insane at the time of the offense, which now makes two independent experts who have reached that conclusion — these findings mean the Commonwealth would be unable to meet our burden of proof at a trial,” the office said in a statement.
Mr. Danehower is due back in court Feb. 19 to have the insanity plea deal finalized.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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