Daryl Easton, the magician found hanged has ties to DC.

From his website (http://www.daryl.net/about_us.php)) "Daryl has performed literally thousands of shows for audiences as diverse as the Witch Doctors on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu to the movers and shakers of the political world at the Presidential Ball in Washington, D.C."

Also from his website's shopping section (http://www.daryl.net/product_detail.php?cat_id=50&id=609)) "Daryl's Ultimate Ambition Improved - Daryl's Complete Gold Medal F.I.S.M. winning routine for The Ambitious Card, including the famous rope around the deck finish." (emphasis mine).

Here is the Rope Around the Deck trick: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iu5FMaR2o))

Interesting similarity to a rope around the neck, which was not part of this trick at all.