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Tymex
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Tymex
Tymon
Birchett "Tymex"
Rest
In Peace |
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Video host/On-Air Talent/Music Industry Insider/Songwriter/Music producer... this guy doesn't stop. He wears all the hats, and he wears them well. This native New Yorker grew up on television in the "19NaughtyNineties" as one of BET's original posse members on the now-defunct Image Award winning program TEEN SUMMIT. From there he went on to work in film and stage in productions such as the LA Theater's Schiznit, RENT, and NBC's West Wing. He currently works in Washington,DC as a record label consultant/product manager; developing new artist and albums.
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December 12, 2003
It is with
great sadness that I report the loss of one crew member
and the segment host
of “The Vibe” for TC Talent Mix
Television Show, "Tymex".
Police are investigating his death as a homicide and details are
sketchy but he was found dead in his apartment in a duffel bag.
I have
known Tymex for many years and I don’t think there is anyone in the
industry that doesn’t know him or know
of him. He was a
social butterfly, stopping to speak for a few moments then off to the
next person, all the while making sure that “you” got introduced to
all the right people.
He was
sweet, sincere, hard working and dedicated to music and his way of life.
He never had a bad word to say about anyone.
He would call me if too much time had gone by and he hadn’t
heard from me, he would call me to make sure that I had received
invitations to the most “hip” or “gotta be there” parties.
He made sure I had all the new “must have” CD’s and he even
made sure I got safely to my car at night if we were on a late shoot.
Tymex was
my friend. I feel
the loss deeply and will really miss him.
On behalf
of the Crew of TC Talent Mix, I extend our deepest sympathy to his
family. Tymex was loved and
respected by many and will be remembered for not only how dedicated he
was but by his sincere and genuine love for people….and the music.
God bless,
TC
www.tctalentmix.com
Return
to Staff Bios |
Press
Release, US Department of Justice, Confession In Birchett Murder Case
9-2-202004
Suspect Sent
to Mental Hospital, ABC 7 News 2-27-2004
Washington
Post Article 12-11-03
Music Promoter
Found Dead, 12-11-03, News Channel 8
Washington
Post Article 12-12-03
URBAN MARKET INTELLIGENCE
(UMI): R.I.P. Tymon "Tymex" Birchett 12-16-2003
Washington
Blade Article, 12-26-2003
Tymon Birchett: Gay
man found dead in duffel bag,
QueerDay.com 12-26-2003
AU Alum Found Dead,
January 15, 2004
Suspect Arrested in
DJ's Murder, Filed February 3, 2003
The Dead Rock
Stars Club, undated
Music
Promoter's Death Called Suspicious
By Petula Dvorak
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 11, 2003; Page B03
A man who was found dead inside a duffel bag in his Northwest
Washington apartment was a vivacious music promoter known in the city's social
and musical scenes, his family said last night.
Tymon Birchett, 28, known as "Tymex," was found dead Tuesday afternoon
in his apartment in the 2100 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW by U.S. marshals,
who had been called there to evict him, police said. The D.C. medical examiner's
office has not released Birchett's cause of death, but police called it
suspicious and said they are investigating it as if it were a homicide.
Relatives said they could not imagine who would harm Birchett, who grew up in
Montgomery County and attended American University.
"You've heard of incidents like this, with no rhyme or reason," said
Erin Patton, a cousin of Birchett's who lives in Texas. "It's hard to
believe when it's someone you know."
Birchett did independent promotion for record labels and was a promoter at the
D.C. nightclub MCCXXIII -- which is called "1223" -- said another
cousin, T.J. Miller of Los Angeles. "He's always been around music, from
DJ-ing in clubs to promoting," Miller said. "He's the guy with the hip
clothes -- stylish not only up-to-the-second, but even styles nobody's seen
before, but they'd all be wearing soon."
At age 5, Birchett would set up a puppet theater on his street in Silver Spring
and make lemonade, charging neighborhood children a quarter for a show and a
drink, said an aunt, Johnnye M. Willis.
"None of this sounds believable to us, what happened to him," said
another aunt, Ruth Schexnayder. "Right now, we're waiting for
answers."
Staff writer David A. Fahrenthold contributed to this report.
Top
CRIME
& JUSTICE
Friday, December 12, 2003; Page B02
Cause of death: Tymon Birchett,
whose body was found Tuesday in a duffel bag in his Northwest Washington
apartment, was beaten and strangled, the D.C. medical examiner's office said
yesterday. His death was classified as a homicide.
Birchett, 29, was found by U.S. marshals, who were there to evict him from the
apartment in the 2100 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW, police said. They have
made no arrests.
Top
URBAN MARKET INTELLIGENCE
(UMI): R.I.P. Tymon "Tymex" Birchett http://www.eurweb.com/articles/columns/12162003/columns1247112162003.cfm
For those of you in the music industry, particularly in the Washington D.C. area, who had the pleasure of knowing Tymon "Tymex" Birchett, you know how sorely he will be missed and how very different the world feels right about now.
While the news of Tymon's death last week sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry, the news literally hit home with me. I had just landed at the airport and called home to let my wife know I had arrived safely when her faint but assured voice told me they had found the body of her cousin Tymon in his D.C. apartment. Damn!
It's amazing how life changes in an instant. Forever. During the ride home, I could only think about how much I really admired, respected and liked being around Tymon. I thought about the last time I saw him. Ironically, I was debating with him on the issue of "What Is Urban?" which ultimately inspired me to write on the subject in this very column.
I smiled thinking about bumping into him at the Congressional Black Caucus in the hallway after I had just finished speaking on a panel. I remember calling my wife right away to give her the "you'll never guess who I bumped into story" (which was par for the course with Tymon because he was always in the know and had his face up in the place). While I was busy chopping it up on the phone with wifey, Tymon was busy trying to introduce me to Andre Harrell.
At the time, I had just finished waxing poetic with Kevin Powell about the ridiculous free advertising Hip-Hop artists were giving away by hawking cars, liquor, apparel, technology and everything else that glitters in their videos for free. I was pointing out how it created an opportunity for urban marketing and advertising firms to strategically create a business model around it along with the artists AND control it.
"Let me introduce you to Andre. He needs to know about what you're doing with your company since you left Nike," Tymon said. "He's started his own agency and I think the two of you could help each other."
Tymon's small frame and backpack quickly dissapeared into the Andre Harrell/Russell Simmons/Kevin Liles entourage as I drifted back into my own self-absorbed ego abyss and decided to pass on the notion of taking advantage of Tymon's pole position in the post-panel opportunity chase which quickly became a very crowded field. There's a time and a place for everything, I conceded to myself. And now's not the right time.
That one scenario captured the essence of Tymon's life purpose so vividly in my mind. I'm not sure how he earned the nickname "Tymex" but I'm convinced it was because, unlike me still standing in the ballroom conducting the one man focus group in my head, "Tymex" seized every moment.
He never passed on the opportunity to find out what made each and every human being he encountered tick and what movements they were making at that very moment that he could align with, or align you with. In the classroom of life, Tymon studied human nature and mastered the art of making connections between people.
Simply put, Tymon put the "P" in people person. Even if you didn't know him, chances are you would walk away from a brief encounter feeling like you were the best of friends. Tymon was genuinely interested in who you were and what your ambitions and motivations in life were. Too often today, we make associations with others as a thinly veiled attempt to get something from them.
He was less interested in getting and more interested in sharing. At the tender age of three as my wife recalls, carrying a portable record player in one hand and a stack of albums in the other, Tymon wanted to share his passion for music. As a teen, he shared his opinion with the nation each week as a member of BET's original Teen Summit "posse." As a professional, he wanted to share a contact with you that might advance your career. And, he never stopped being that 3-year-old sharing his passion for music.
While his life was cut short under such tragic circumstances, his life was definitely not in vain. The outpouring of love, sympathy expressed and admiration professed are testaments to the reciprocal nature of giving. As we approach the holiday season, let it be one of giving. And I urge you all to give the one gift that is life's most precious and valuable in memory of Tymon...the gift of friendship.
I carried Tymon's spirit with me yesterday as I spoke to every person I could while shopping and it felt good. I opened myself up and made a new friend while buying a gift for a client at the mall and it turned out he owned the business I was patronizing. I got a nice discount on my merchandise and, better yet, it turns out we may now be doing business together since he needs a little marketing expertise for his company.
Renew a friendship this holiday season or make a new one. Raise the level of quality in your friendships. Introduce a friend to a friend who could benefit from the new association, regardless of what's in it for you.
The saying goes, it's not WHAT you know but WHO you know. Like most things in life, Tymon took nothing at face value and probed further to add his own, unique twist. Like me, he believed it's not who YOU know but who knows YOU.
Tymex, I thank GOD that I got to know YOU. You'll always be my friend.
One Love.
Top
Body Found In Duffel Bag In December
POSTED:
11:17 AM EST February 3, 2004
UPDATED:
5:46 PM EST February 3, 2004
WASHINGTON -- D.C. police have made an arrest in a
murder that happened on Embassy Row in December.
Investigators said they arrested Enzo Maximillia Costa (pictured, left) late
Monday in the killing of a local disc jockey and music promoter.
The body of Tymon Birchett, 28, was discovered on Dec. 9 inside a duffel bag
at an apartment on Massachusetts Avenue near 22nd Street Northwest. Marshals
had gone into the apartment to serve an eviction notice.
Detectives said Costa was arrested in the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
Southeast overnight. He has been charged with murder.
Previous Stories:
Top
|
 |
Tymon ‘Tymex’ Birchett
was found dead in his
Dupont Circle apartment on Dec. 9.
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Friday, December 26, 2003
D.C. police are seeking help from local gay residents in an investigation
into the killing of a gay music promoter whose body was found Dec. 9 inside a
duffel bag in his Dupont Circle apartment.
United States marshals called police to the apartment of Tymon “Tymex”
Birchett, 28, at the State House Apartments, at 2122 Massachusetts Ave., NW,
about 3:45 p.m., after they discovered his body while removing his belongings
during an eviction, according to a police statement.
A member of the staff of the D.C. medical examiner’s office pronounced
Birchett dead on the scene, the police statement said. Two days later, the
medical examiner’s office disclosed that he had been strangled and beaten.
District Police homicide detective Scott Guthrie said Birchett was last seen
alive Sunday night, Dec. 7, at Lizard Lounge, a weekly gay dance party held at
1223 Connecticut Ave., NW. Guthrie said he and other investigators are calling
on anyone who may have seen Birchett between late Sunday night, Dec. 7, and
Monday, Dec. 8, to contact him or another detective at the department’s
Violent Crimes Branch at 202-645-9600.
Guthrie said that in addition to frequenting Lizard Lounge, people who knew
Birchett said he also patronized the gay nightclub Apex at 22nd and P Streets,
NW.
The detective said he has contacted Sgt. Brett Parson, commander of the
police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, for assistance in the probe into
Birchett’s death.
According to Guthrie, police suspended the eviction and returned Birchett’s
belongings to his apartment to enable Birchett’s family to eventually gain
access to the items. Parson said police sealed the apartment as a crime scene
and were going over Birchett’s belongings with the hope of finding evidence
that might lead them to a suspect.
Guthrie said there were no signs of a forced entry into the apartment.
The killings of more than a dozen gay men in D.C. over the past decade remain
unsolved in cases that police and gay activists refer to as “pickup”
murders. In each of these cases, police have said they found the victims dead in
their houses or apartments, with no evidence of a forced entry.
This suggests that the gay male victim most likely met his killer at a gay
bar or other meeting place and invited the assailant to his house or apartment,
police have said.
Parson said investigators have yet to determine the motive in the Birchett
killing and lack sufficient evidence to classify the case as a pickup killing.
Parson said people who knew Birchett told police he associated with gays but
did not identify himself as being gay. However, at least two of his
acquaintances told the Blade that Birchett, while preferring not to disclose his
sexual orientation to many of his business associates, was known to be gay among
a wide circle of gay friends.
Glenn Berkheimer, a gay former D.C. resident who lives in Fort Lauderdale,
Fla., said he met Birchett through mutual gay friends in D.C. and occasionally
socialized with him.
 |
| Sgt. Brett Parson said investigators
have yet to determine the motive in the Birchett killing and lack
sufficient evidence to classify the case as a pickup killing. |
“Everyone seemed to like him,” said Berkheimer. “Some said he was too
nice. He would give you the shirt off his back.”
A source familiar with the D.C. music and nightclub scene, who spoke on
condition that he not be identified, said Birchett was gay but not out.
“ Anyone who knew anything about him said he was gay,” the source said.
Relatives of Birchett told the Washington Post that he did independent
promoting work for record labels.
“He’s always been around music, from DJ-ing in clubs to promoting,” one
of his cousins, T.J. Miller of Los Angeles, told the Post. The Post reported
that relatives said Birchett grew up in Montgomery County and attended American
University.
None of the relatives could think of any reason why someone would want to
harm Birchett, the Post reported.
Teresa D. Ruiz, president and CEO of TC Talent Mix, Inc., a national
television production company operating out of Bowie, Md., stated on her
firm’s Web site that Birchett worked as a crewmember for one of the firm’s
television programs. In a tribute to Birchett that Ruiz posted on the site, she
called him “sweet, sincere, hard working and dedicated to music and his way of
life.”
“He never had a bad word to say about anyone,” Ruiz wrote. “[H]e would
call me to make sure that I had received invitations to the most ‘hip’ or
‘gotta be there’ parties. He made sure I had all the new ‘must have’ CDs
… Tymex was my friend. I feel the loss deeply and really will miss him.”
Top
December 26, 2003
Tymon Birchett: Gay
man found dead in duffel bag
In Washington, D.C., police are seeking help from local gay
residents in an investigation into the killing of Tymon "Tymex"
Birchett, a gay music promoter whose body was found inside a duffel bag in his
Dupont Circle apartment. United States marshals called police to the apartment
after they discovered his body while removing his belongings during an eviction.
The medical examiner’s office disclosed he had been strangled and beaten.
Detectives say Birchett was last seen alive on Sunday night, December 7th, at
Lizard Lounge, a weekly gay dance party. There were no signs of a forced entry
into the apartment. The killings of more than a dozen gay men in D.C. over the
past decade remain unsolved in probable pickup murders. In each case police
found the victims dead in their homes with no evidence of forced entry. There is
not yet sufficient evidence to classify this case as a pickup killing.
Top
A former AU student who is remembered as a musically talented
social butterfly was found dead in his Embassy Row apartment during study days
last month.
Tymon Birchett, 29, widely known as "Tymex," was found dead inside a
duffel bag Wednesday, Dec. 10 by U.S. Marshals who were sent to evict him from
his apartment at 2122 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. After an autopsy, the District's
medical examiner's office ruled that Birchett was beaten and strangled to death,
according to Adrienne Lavalley, general counsel to the medical examiner.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the death as a homicide,
according to MPD Officer Junis Fletcher.
"Right now the case is still under active investigation," Fletcher
said. "All leads have been exhausted and are being checked out."
The MPD Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit is helping with the case, Fletcher said,
but declined to comment further.
Two acquaintances told the Washington Blade that Birchett was known to be gay,
although he preferred not to disclose his sexual orientation in his professional
life.
MPD detective Scott Guthrie told the Blade that Birchett was last seen alive the
night of Sunday, Dec. 7 at the MCCXXIII nightclub. There was no sign of forced
entry into Birchett's apartment, Guthrie said.
"We haven't established any motive," Guthrie said. "We're keeping
our minds open."
Police declined to say whether there are any suspects in the case.
Birchett's friends cannot explain why anyone would have hurt him.
"His personality wouldn't lead me to believe someone would do something
like that," said AU audiovisual technician Danny Hurtado, who worked in the
department with Birchett when he was a student. "He was never
disrespectful, always a very nice dude."
It is unknown if or when Birchett graduated from AU; Hurtado and senior Michael
Menachem, who met Birchett at a party during the summer of 2002, estimated that
Birchett might have graduated in 2002. The University Registrar's office could
not confirm his graduation.
Birchett, who was well-known as a record label promoter, would often work with
music on computers during his free time, Hurtado said.
Along with his musical talents, Birchett was known for being kind and sociable.
"He talked to everybody, that was his thing ... getting to know
everybody," Hurtado said. "He's the type of person who was always
inviting me to social events and stuff like that."
MPD is asking anyone with information about the case to call (202) 727-9099.
Top
The Dead
Rock Stars Club
Tymon
Birchett (aka Tymex) - Found dead 12-9-2003 in Northwest Washington (
Promoter ) Born 6-17-1974 - He was a DJ and did independent promotions for
record labels and for D.C. nightclubs.
Washington - Family members say a man who was
found dead inside a duffel bag in his Northwest Washington apartment this week
was 28-year-old Tymon Birchett, also known as Tymex.
Tymex was a well-known music promoter. His body was found Tuesday afternoon
by U.S. marshals who had come to evict him from his apartment in the 2,100
block of Massachusetts Avenue.
Birchett had already moved many of his belongings out to the street when his
body was found.
Police do not know how Birchett died or how long he had been there, but they are
calling his death suspicious and say they are investigating it as a homicide.
Copyright 2003 WJLA/NewsChannel 8, a division of Allbritton Communications
Company
| PRESS
RELEASE |
| |
| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
For
Information, Contact Public Affairs |
| Thursday,
September 2, 2004 |
Channing
Phillips (202) 514-6933 |
| |
| |
|
Man pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to
strangling a friend in Dupont Circle apartment in 2003
|
| |
|
Washington, D.C.
- United States Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein announced that Enzo
Costa, 22, of no fixed address, pled not guilty by reason of
insanity to second degree murder today before the Honorable John
H. Bayly, Jr. after entering into a stipulated agreement with the
government regarding the strangulation death of Tymon Birchett, at
2122 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C., on or about
December 8, 2003.
According to the stipulated facts of the case,
in the early morning hours of December 8, 2003, after attending a
party, Costa accompanied Birchett, also known as "Tymex",
to Birchett's residence at 2122 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. (PSA
306). While in Birchett's apartment, Costa sat on a chair, while
Birchett sat and worked on a laptop computer a short distance
away. Costa suddenly began yelling at Birchett and started
striking him with his fists. Birchett fell to the ground, and
Costa put his hands around the neck of Birchett and squeezed for
several minutes. After choking Birchett for that length of time,
Costa jumped on Birchett's chest twice. Costa then placed
Birchett's fully-clothed body under running water in the bathroom
tub before putting the body in a large duffel bag. Costa zipped up
the duffel bag and placed the bag underneath a piece of furniture.
Costa then spent some time using Birchett's laptop computer before
leaving the apartment.
On December 9, 2003, at approximately 3:45 p.m.,
members of the U.S. Marshals Service arrived at Costa's apartment
to serve an eviction order for non-payment of rent. Upon gaining
entry, the members were in the course of removing the items in the
apartment when they discovered Birchett's remains in the duffel
bag in the apartment. An autopsy was conducted at the D.C. Medical
Examiner's Office and it was determined that the cause of death
was blunt impact to the torso and manual strangulation and that
the manner of death was homicide.
From December 9, 2003 up until February 2, 2004,
the defendant told a number of family members, health care
professionals, and police officers that he had killed his friend
or that he had killed "Tymex." On February 2, 2004,
Costa made contact with the Metropolitan Police Department and
confessed to the murder. Costa admitted to having killed Birchett
after he felt that Birchett was using the laptop computer to
sexually assault him.
At the September 2, 2004 hearing, Dr. Michael G.
Sweda, a forensic psychologist at St. Elizabeths Hospital,
testified that Costa suffers from a mental disease or defect, that
is, paranoid schizophrenia. Moreover, Dr. Sweda stated that at the
time Costa committed the murder, his actions were as a result of
that mental disease or defect which caused him to lack substantial
capacity either to recognize the wrongfulness of his conduct or to
conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. Upon Costa's
entrance into the stipulated agreement, the court remanded him to
the custody of St. Elizabeths Hospital. The court further
scheduled an October 22, 2004 hearing regarding the hospital's
written opinion regarding Costa's mental illness and
dangerousness, and need for treatment.
In announcing the agreement, United States
Attorney Wainstein praised the investigative work of Metropolitan
Police Detectives Scott Gutherie and Lee Littlejohn. Finally, he
thanked Assistant United States Attorney Denise Cheung, who
prosecuted the case.
|
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| Suspect in Promoter's Killing
Sent to Mental Hospital |
| Tuesday February 17, 2004 1:25pm |
 |
Washington (AP) - The Silver Spring man accused of murdering a
music promoter has been sent to a mental hospital.
At a hearing Tuesday, a judge ordered Enzo Costa sent to Saint Elizabeths
Hospital to be evaluated to see if he's competent to stand trial.
Costa was arrested February second and charged with killing Tymon Birchett, a
music promoter known as Tymex. Back on December 9th, U.S. Marshals sent to carry
out an eviction order found Birchett's body inside an apartment at 2122
Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest.
A police detective testified Tuesday that Costa police to confess to the crime.
Costa allegedly said after a night of partying, the two argued, and that's when
he attacked Birchett - hitting and strangling him.
|
