Mother Of Chandra Levy Grapples With Development In Daughter's Murder Case

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Charges against the man convicted of killing Chandra Levy have been dropped. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington D.C. announced on Thursday it will not retry Ingmar Guandique.

"I have to say, I'm in a state of shock, totally in a state of shock," said Susan Levy, Chandra's mother. "It kind of like puts you back to the level of grief that you originally had."

It's been 15 years since Susan Levy last saw her daughter Chandra Levy alive. Levy disappeared in 2001 while interning in Washington D.C. her remains were discovered a year later. Guandique was tried and convicted in 2010, but granted a new trial last year.

A statement from U.S. Attorney's Office read: "in the interests of justice and based on recent unforeseen developments…. the office has concluded that it can no longer prove the murder case against Mr. Guandique beyond a reasonable doubt."

A motion from the U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE described the reason as "based upon new information that the government received within the past week." But it gave no further detail.

"It was a technical issue and I am feeling pretty shocky right now," Levy said. "Physically and emotionally, not doing very well."

"If they thought they could convict him and they thought that he truly was the murderer, this case would be going forward," said Ken Rosenfeld, Criminal Defense Attorney. "But they said that there was evidence uncovered over the last week, which gives them not just pause, but opening the jailhouse doors so this guy goes out,"

"It's possible they've got DNA evidence that could exonerate the current person or implicate somebody new," said Jeff Harp, who worked at the FBI during the time of the D.C. investigation.

He said if the evidence is DNA, it's still than reliable even after all of this time.

"It's not going to go away, so if it's DNA evidence, that was good the day they got it, up until they have it now," Harp said.

Levy is still holding onto hope that somehow investigators can find the person responsible for murdering her daughter.

"I always want justice, but even if I get justice, it doesn't bring calm back to a family that's been fractured by a horrendous crime like this," she said. "She's with me all the time."

At the time of her murder, Levy was having an affair with Congressman Gary Condit. His lawyer released a statement today that said in part: "this in no way alters the fact that Mr. Condit was long ago completely exonerated by authorities in connection with Ms. Levy's death."

Guandique was previously convicted of assaulting two joggers in the same park where levy's remains were found. Now, pending action by the court, Guandique will be released to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement, where he faces removal proceedings.