Ardele Julia Monkkonen, left, and Edward Ricardo Thomas, 20, right.
Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Police

 BETHESDA --- The two suspects who were arrested Tuesday, July 19, for the homicide of Bijan Manuel Nassirdaftari, have had their extradition hearings, and have been transported to Montgomery County. Edward Ricardo Thomas, age 20, of the 1700 block of Harvard Street in northwest Washington, D.C., and Ardele Julia Monkkonen, age 18, of the same block address, have both now been charged with First-degree Murder and Armed Robbery. Both are being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Montgomery County Police, working in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department, arrested the suspects in the District of Columbia. They were originally charged by Metropolitan Police as fugitives from justice in connection with the Montgomery County homicide.

Through the investigation it was determined that Michael Manaugh (whose name was provided in a previous updated release and is currently held without bond in Montgomery County) agreed to sell marijuana to Nassirdaftari. Manaugh then made an arrangement with Thomas and Monkkonen to steal the purchase money and not to provide drugs. Manaugh drove the suspects’ vehicle, Thomas was identified as the shooter, and Monkkonen was present during the incident and aware of the robbery plan. During the robbery, which was occurring inside the suspects’ vehicle, a struggle ensued between Thomas and Nassirdaftari. Nassirdaftari managed to escape from the car, was chased by Thomas, who shot Nassirdaftari in the head, and robbed him of his money.

Detectives believe the location of this homicide was selected randomly by the suspects.