photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Julius Beasley wipes away tears Monday, Oct, 7, 2024, at his preliminary hearing as a witness describes his close relationship with the woman he is accused of killing.

A 42-year-old Lawrence man who was released from jail less than three weeks ago after the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office dropped a murder charge against him is now back behind bars after he was arrested Friday night on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

Julius Robert Beasley, who was accused of murdering 51-year-old Crystal Marie White two years ago at a North Lawrence homeless camp, was arrested just before 11 p.m. Friday at an apartment in the 600 block of Maine Street on suspicion of aggravated burglary of a dwelling for “felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crime,” according to the Douglas County Jail booking log. He is being held on a bond of $500,000 cash or surety — the same bond amount he faced when he was accused of murder.

According to Lawrence police, officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress at the apartment near Sixth and Maine streets and found two injured men.

They saw the described suspect sitting on a curb and, after some difficulty getting him to cooperate, were able to detain him.

The other man was inside the apartment. He told police that he was sitting outside enjoying the summerlike weather when a man he didn’t know went into his apartment and tried to take his wallet.

The resident said that a violent fight ensued but that he was eventually able to get the man out, shut the door and call for help.

Both men were taken to the hospital. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. The suspect, Beasley, was later taken to jail.

As the Journal-World reported, the first-degree murder charge was dismissed on March 2 at the request of Douglas County DA Dakota Loomis, who cited a lack of evidence. The murder charge was originally brought by former DA Suzanne Valdez. The charge was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be filed again.

Following White’s death on Feb. 22, 2024, Beasley was initially arrested at Burcham Park on suspicion of a parole violation and failure to appear for a municipal court violation. He was subsequently charged with the murder of White, who was apparently stabbed in her tent at the unsanctioned camp.

According to Kansas Department of Corrections records, Beasley has a history of multiple drug convictions, burglary and criminal threat, and he reportedly had absconded from his post-release supervision on Feb. 19, 2024, after being released from prison earlier in Douglas County. He was previously an inmate at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

photo by: Chris Conde/Special to the Journal-World

Julius Beasley appears on Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024, in Douglas County District Court. He has been ordered to stand trial in connection with the stabbing death of a woman at an unsanctioned homeless camp in North Lawrence.