May 5

Three people got murdered over the weekend in the city, and one got killed in Annapolis.

• Early Saturday morning, Dawn Lynn Shipley got shot in the head because of a cigarette.
• Saturday afternoon, Michael Lee Thompson was shot behind some rowhouses on Pleasant St. in Annapolis. He'd been out of jail for a year and was apparently trying to get on a good path.
• On Sunday morning, Sean W. Henderson and a friend were shot "for no apparent reason" on Belair Rd.
• A few hours later, a man was found in the backyard of a rowhouse on Orleans St. in the Middle East neighborhood.

Luke gives us his monthly murder recap, along with the tasty fact that this was the least murderous April in Baltimore since 1977.

There was also the police-involved shooting on Lauretta Ave. on Friday night, but y'all know about that already. The shootee is in critical condition.

Shooters and cutters in the city, and familial bad behavior in the county.

One of the 911 operators who took a call about stabbing victim Nancy Schmidt last month has been suspended, but we don't have any idea why.

Robert Allen Flanagan is the kind of bank robber who inspires folk tales.

You know, it's hard out here for a pimp teacher.

Is Violence a Virus?

... and if so, how do you send it into remission?
(An NYT article about CeaseFire)

... residents of Armistead Gardens in the NE were forced to stay inside on account of a suicidal, gun-toting loony.

Weekend

Police reportedly shot a guy who fired at them, they believe he was the gunman in an earlier shooting at a gas station in the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue. WBAL says it's popo-involved shooting #12 of '08.
(WARNING: an ad on this page starts making a racket after a few moments... turn down your volume before you click the link!)

"Roy Edward Hoover, Jr., age 38, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography ... Hoover sexually assaulted a minor female victim, beginning when she was approximately 14 years old."
also gross: John Ewing Baugus, age 62, of Odenton.
Yuck, yuck, yuck.

White-collar crime news du semaine includes 188 months for Bmorean David McDowell Robinson's wire and mail fraud that bilked <900 investors; a $13 million fine for shady prescription drug transactions by the McKesson Corp.; money laundering with a tax-refund scam.

Barry "Mook" Henderson got 188 federal months for selling coke.

Chillagers are freaking out over the rape this week and the one on March 5 (the story also references the e-mail below, though note that the robbery was in the Evergreen section of Roland Park, not Homeland.)

Meanwhile, a break-in in the Eastern, a work-site robbery in the Northern, and three knife-wielding teenage girls in the Blotter.

A woman faces jail on animal cruelty charges for leaving her dog in a locked car. The poor fried pooch had to be put down. Don't leave dogs in cars, people!

Sad: you probably heard already, but Deborah Jeane Palfrey, former madam of HoCoPro Brandy Britton, hanged herself in Florida. Britton also killed herself in January of last year. Here's Slate's summary of what the blog-o-sphere has to say.

"Gay and lesbian activists thought they had a friend in Martin O'Malley."
Syke!

Armed Robbery in Evergreen

E-mail forwarded from the victim:

• "11:30 PM on Wednesday, April 30th about one hundred yard up from intersection of Coldspring and Schenley in front of my house 4507 Schenley Road.


• 3 African American Males, (approx 6ft; probably around 18 years old) one with white bandana around his face, pulled their car in front of mine as I was getting out with a few bags of groceries. They ran towards me yelling and demanded money. The one with the bandana around his face DIPLAYED A SMALL HANDGUN.


• I screamed and threw everything in my pockets on the ground. They demanded money (cash) and I insisted that I did not have any on my person. I told them to take my bank card and continued to make a great deal of commotion. They instead took my cell phone and ran back to the car. They said “Don’t call the police.” And jumped back in the car and headed North on Schenley.


• Police are now involved and tracking my cell phone. A neighbor got a partial description of the car and license plate. The organizer of the new neighborhood patrol happened to be driving down Schenley in his car with the roof light rack as the robbers were driving up."

May 2

An unidentified man was killed yesterday morning in Woodmere.

The story about Javon Thompson, the missing toddler whose body might have been found in Philly, grows freakier by the day. It involves an East Baltimore cult that eschews health care, follows people with names like Queen Antoinette and Princess Travia, and had a standoff with police in 2006 because they wouldn't give a member's baby back to her. Kudos to Annie and Gus for some awesome reporting! (Yesterday's article)

Police are looking for a well-spoken rapist who has attacked two women on St. Paul St. in the past two months.

BPD officer Troy Jacquan Gee Sr. is being investigated for getting his icky on with a 13-year-old female relative.

More details on the allegedly maniacal 105 pound, 62-year-old woman who was so scary that HoCo police had to shoot her. Not surprisingly, her husband's pissed.

Alleged child abuser / piece of shit John Griffin got his bail reduced to $100,000, despite the fact that Judge Martin called pictures of Griffin's dead baby "horrifying" and "upsetting to the extreme."

Soman Thamby pleaded guilty to killing his wife, Lesa Lynn Thamby, last year.

Gregory Simmons took the stand to testify against two teenage girls who stabbed and paralyzed him as he tried to protect "several of his daughters."

Don't forget to post your questions for Baltimore economist Anirban Basu, who is participating in the first ever Baltimore Crime interview.

No Time for Bad Samaritans

Two men received probation Wednesday for doing nothing to stop an unprovoked attack on septuagenarian Sun journalist Carl Schoettler. One passer-by "encouraged [one of the assailants] after the attack to comb through Schoettler’s pockets for cash." His "excuse"? He had his young son with him. Wouldn't want to set a bad example, right? Another dingus, Gregory G. Kulla, gave the attackers a ride. He got a PBJ.

Said Judge John Glynn, “If such a thing should happen in the future I hope you should remember this and behave with more nobility than you did here.”
What do you think-- was this fair, or should Glynn have handed down some actual time?

Erik Stoddard Convicted for the 3rd Time

From the SA's Office, edited

Just after 5 PM, following three hours of deliberations, a Baltimore jury convicted Erik Stoddard, 27, of the 2500 block of Moore Avenue, of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse resulting in death. Prosecutors proceeded with a third trial after submitting last year on a defense motion for a new trial following appeal questions on a voir dire question during jury selection.

The jury reached a verdict following eight days of testimony. Stoddard faces a maximum possible prison term of 40 years. The Honorable Kaye Allison will sentence Stoddard on June 16, 2008 following a pre-sentence investigation. Details:

A Baltimore City jury convicted Stoddard March 13, 2003 of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death for the death of Calen Faith Dirubbo, 3, and Stoddard began serving a 60-year prison term. The Court of Appeals later vacated the conviction noting that a particular question during the original trial constituted inadmissible hearsay. The case was returned for a new trial.

On May 16, 2007 Stoddard was again convicted of second-degree murder and child-abuse resulting in death. However, the State submitted on a defense motion for a new trial and on July 5, 2007 a Baltimore Circuit Court judge vacated Stoddard’s second-degree murder conviction, citing a voir dire question not asked of prospective jurors before last year’s trial.

On June 15, 2002 Dirubbo was pronounced dead at her home, where she lived with her mother and Stoddard. Dirubbo died as a result of multiple beatings over a period of at least a month; the fatal blow occurred June 15, 2002 and severed her bowel. The State proved through detailed medical evidence that Stoddard was the only person who had custody of Dirubbo when the fatal blow occurred. The third trial occurred with the State missing a key State witness, Calen’s grandfather, who passed away earlier this year. His testimony from an earlier trial was read into the court record last week.

Julie Drake, Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy Eldridge prosecuted this case.

Baltimore Crime interview

Given the distinctly economic bent of several recent comment threads, I've asked economist Anirban Basu to participate in the first ever Baltimore Crime interview. Mr. Basu has graciously agreed to share his vast knowledge about both Baltimore and economics, and will be interviewed next week.

So, what do you want to know about crime, economics, and Baltimore? Ask your questions in the comments section to this post, and I will pass them on to Mr. Basu. While I won't guarantee that all of your questions will be answered, I'm genuinely excited to see what questions you all come up with.

May 1

The Sun has the story of Javon Thompson, the missing toddler whose body might've been found in a suitcase in Philly.

Dang. The HoCo police seem to have it out for teenagers and old ladies.

There was a badass car chase in the Southeastern yesterday.

Charges against Montay Jackson were dropped because the evidence is for shit and the SA office doesn't want to risk double jeopardy. Jackson was charged with manslaughter for dragging Charles Erdman to death after a traffic accident last year.

Preston Feaston was charged with assaulting Examiner photographer Arianne Starnes. If there were bystanders to the attack (and this is Baltimore, so of course there were bystanders), maybe they'll get probation like the two guys who egged on the beatdown of 73-year-old Sun journalist Carl Schoettler.

The nun said no, but the judge said yes, and Jennifer McMenamin spun it into an engrossing yarn:

Sister Muriel Curran faced the man who shoved her to the ground and ripped away her purse three years ago. She quoted Scripture. She thanked him for the guilty plea that spared her a trial. And she asked a Baltimore County judge not to send him to prison ... Police officers waiting for other cases listened in astonishment

... Charles R. Dodson still got 4 1/2 years. "The judge explained that he, like Sister Curran, believes in rehabilitation. But he said he also believes in punishment."

Antajuan Wilson was indicted for the murder of Bryan Adams in Columbia. (If he had to kill a doppleganger of a bad Canadian singer, couldn't he have taken out someone named Celine Dion instead?)

Fred Mackler is a trip. A successful businessman and community philanthropist with a bunch of guns and drugs and bird bangers.

April 30

You'd think that with only two murders, Anna Ditkoff wouldn't have much news this week. You'd think that, and you'd be wrong.

A few more details about the child whose body was found in a suitcase in Philly.

A 15-year-old boy's mom took him to the police station and made him confess to shooting Jawan Keith Tasker in Annapolis.

The body that was found in a car in White Marsh has been ID'd as Jay Royden Alban, who has been missing since February.

Fred Mackler's pyrotechnics were behind the booms in Pikesville.

The alleged Edgewood kidnapper got caught.

More details on Agnes Welch's plan to give conflict resolution training to the city's youth. No word on whether the training will include target practice.

There's some danged fancy packaging for pot seeds.

Canton is taking a stand against the school board.

Crazy in the Suburbs

WTF? Kenneth G. Ryan, age 21 of Catonsville, got 30 years for killing his 15-day-old son last year after huffing "Dust-Off," a computer keyboard cleaning product.

A "barricade situation" in a Roger's Forge rowhome ended peacefully.

Psychiatric evaluations will determine if frati/mati/patri/cidal teen Nicholas Browning will be tried as an adult or a juvenile.

Burglary Report from Roland Park

[edited]

Hello all,
The house at 100 Woodlawn Road, on the corner of Cold Spring and Woodlawn, was burglarized yesterday afternoon at around 3 pm. Randy S. came home during the burglary, finding a person or persons in his basement. Randy was very smart and got out of the house as soon as he realized there was someone in it, and he immediately called 911.

The burglar got in by breaking the panes out of a small window into the butler’s pantry, a window that faces Cold Spring. He/they crawled through the window. They took Randy’s laptop outside and tried, without succeeding, to log into his wireless network. They brought the laptop back into the house and were in the basement when they were scared off by Randy’s return. Randy told me that nothing else was taken (not the jars of coins, any of his wife’s jewelry, their CDs or electronic equipment) and nothing was ransacked. Randy and Priya’s alarm wasn’t turned on.

A house on Ridgewood Road was broken into in the middle of the day last week and a laptop was stolen. That house had its alarm turned on and there was a small dog in the house.

Randy plans to point out the similarities between the two incidents to the police. Just in case this is a developing trend, it’d be best to avoid leaving laptops where they can be seen through a window, if at all possible.

thanks for sending, Ron

Baltimore baby's remains found in Philly?

The remains of a baby were found in a suitcase behind a rowhouse in South Philly. The baby might be a child who went missing from Baltimore in 2006 or 2007. (Thanks, Burger!)

April 29

A body was found in a car in White Marsh, and WJZ is the only place I could find it reported. Oh, maybe the bloggers at B who replaced the Sun's Baltimore County crime reporters will write about it!

Sweet! Operation Crippler is underway.

A kidnapping victim in Edgewood escaped after his attackers crashed into a lightpole.

Lots and lots of stories on alleged perv Timothy Rhodes. Just remember, innocent until proven guilty, right?

Hmmmm... a PI hired by Norman Stamp's widow asks an interesting question that ends with a preposition: "Did (Stamp) have the brass knuckles on as they say? How do you reach for a gun if you have knuckles on?"

The morning news is full of fine questions: "Where is the outrage in Baltimore?"

Mike Castillo was indicted, and MoCo police say they followed proper procedures in responding to three desperate calls from the kids' mother.

Six incarcerated teens were charged as adults after they responded to a counseling session by beating the crap out of the counselor.

Missing witness Ronald P. Johnson Jr. got a year of home detention and was ordered to await the trial of one of the alleged participants in the 2004 Randallstown High shooting.

John Scott Bealefeld is going to the crazy house after pleading to second-degree murder.

There were some freaky booms happening in Pikesville, but relax, Bernadette Woods: "Baltimore County Police have arrested Frederick Lee Mackler, 59, of the 8000-block of Brynmor Court, 21208. He was identified by police last night for being responsible for a multitude of complaints that the community made concerning loud explosion sounds in the area."

Police are seeking other victims of alleged pervy gym teacher Timothy Rhodes, who was arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl. Rhodes taught at Pleasant Plains Elementary.

Two Years for Murder Over Handgun

At a hearing today Crystal Nikkita Newby, 22, of the 2900 block of Southland Avenue, pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter. Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Newby to eight years in prison suspend all but two years and four years probation.

On September 14, 2007 Newby fatally stabbed Qasim Kabah, 29, on the front porch of a house located in the 2500 block of Terra Firma Road. Newby and Kabah had been arguing over the illegal sale of a 9mm Tech 9 handgun and that argument became physical, leading to the stabbing.

Assistant State’s Attorney James Francamano prosecuted this case.

Mark Castillo indicted

Hot from the SA's office, news that (alleged) kid-killer Mark Castillo was indicted.

State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy announced that the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Mark Castillo, 42, of Rockville, Maryland for three counts of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death today.

Court documents allege on March 30, 2008, Mark Castillo drowned his three children Anthony Castillo, 6, Austin Castillo, 4, and Athena Castillo, 2, in the bathtub of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Baltimore City.

An arraignment is scheduled for May 19, 2008 before Judge W. Michel Pierson, Room 329 Courthouse East.

The case will be prosecuted by Julie Drake, Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division.

April 28

A woman's body was found in a rowhouse on N. Milton St., but the initial investigation shows she might be an OD rather than a murder victim. An autopsy will be performed.

Some guy was attacked with a machete in Cockeysville.

Sarah Kreager talks to Luke B. about the bus attack.

Oh, thank heavens! Sheila D. has a plan! I can finally rest easy.

I swear, it seems like there are more fires in HarCo than there are pervs in HoCo.

A triple shooting at 1907 N. Dukeland in the SW on the West Side in Walbrook.

The Sun's Greg Garland and Lynne Anderson have a special report on the mess that is the DSS.

Van Smith: "Before his death, Federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna argued that Milton Tillman Jr. was a notorious and violent drug dealer."
(thanks Stan)

Also in the CP: "Ken Barnes, The Sno-Ball Stand Sex Offender, Still Awaits Release From Jail"