Guilty Verdict in Philip Airey Murder

Michael Martin, 28, of the 200 block of Allwood Road was found guilty late Friday afternoon May 23 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and assault and deadly weapon charges before the Honorable John Addison Howard. The maximum sentence for first-degree murder is life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled August 14, 2008. Details from the SA's office:

On June 20, 2007 Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the scene of a car fire in the field off a ramp leading to West Nursery Road off of I-295. The firefighters noticed the 1993 Chevrolet Prism gas cap was missing, license plates were missing and the area around the car was also burned. When fire officials popped the trunk they found decomposed remains of a body later identified as Philip Calvin Airey Jr., 36.

Statement of facts. Philip Airey had been reported missing by his mother on June 19, 2007. She last saw her son on June 18 just before he left to meet Tracy Asbury at a local bar. According to witness statements, Airey arrived alone, ordered two drinks before Asbury showed up at the bar. The two were observed by witnesses having drinks and playing pool together for several hours before Asbury left the bar alone at midnight. Asbury was observed on her cell phone as she left the bar. Cell phone records revealed that Asbury was calling Michael Martin and Robert Speake. Airey ordered his last drink after Asbury left at 12:07 a.m. Cell phone records indicate Asbury made several cell phone calls to Airey between 12:40 and 12:42 a.m. Shortly after that time Airey arrived at the house on Pennington Avenue. According to witnesses, upon his entrance to the house he was met with fists, kicks and punches in the living room. The fight moved down into the basement where he was further assaulted and ultimately stabbed to death. Witnesses at the house at the time of the assault gave statements that they saw Michael Martin, Tracy Asbury and Robert Speake assault Airey and later saw a body wrapped in a blanket and a sleeping bag in the basement of the house. Another witness gave a statement that the next day, in the early morning, he saw Philip Airey’s prism in the alley and that Tracy Asbury was standing next to the vehicle and the trunk of the car was open. Witnesses gave statements that Asbury had spoken openly about an elaborate plan to assault Airey over the course of several weeks.

Speake, 19, [pleaded] guilty April 7, 2008 to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon (knife) with intent to injure. Under terms of the plea agreement Speake was to testify truthfully in the Asbury trial. and will receive a prison term of 58-years suspend all but 43-years at a later date.

Tracy Asbury plead[ed] guilty May 14 to second-degree murder and conspiracy to assault before the Honorable John Addison Howard. As part of her plea agreement with the state, Asbury will receive a sentence of 55-years suspend all but 33-years and a 5-year probation term. Sentencing has been held sub-curia until the Martin case concluded.

Michael Martin is the last co-defendant to be convicted.

Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Shaffer of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

May 23

The Blotter reports four shootings this week on or near Monument St. in East Baltimore.

What happened to the good ol' days, when armed teenagers on PCP would steal muscle cars instead of mini vans? (One of the alleged thieves' middle name is Delorean. Somebody's parents musta had a thing for Michael J. Fox.)

Fake water inspectors may be trying to steal your shit.

Maybe by the time Victor William Kunst Jr. gets out of kiddie porn jail, he'll be too old to get it up.

Someone snitched on cameraman extraordinaire Akiba Matthews, who was found guilty and now faces 30 years on federal drug and gun charges.

Prosecutors are fighting gangs with the theatre arts.

12 Years for 6 Corpses

The good news: in this week's edition of "Murders Revisited," three out of six adults charged with murder faced some sort of consequence. The bad news: none of the sentences for the three men charged exceeded five years.

There was an armed robbery on campus at UMBC.
(thanks Jeff!)

May 21

Six more murders this week, compared to five in last year's (5/23/07) issue of Murder Ink.

Why is this buried in the Blotter? "A woman, 23, told police she was standing on South Broadway about 2 a.m. Friday and waiting for a ride when a man forced her into a nearby alley and raped her. The woman reported the incident Sunday and was taken to a hospital."

Sunday's bloody melee (I love that word, melee!) in Federal Hill is all over the print news, but TV doesn't seem so interested: The Sun, The Examiner, The Examiner blog (Now With Comments!), and b (along with the question "Would we care if it happened in a different ZIP code?" Looking at the number of fights in the Blotter, I think the answer is a resounding "no").

No bail for Queen Antoinette or her 20-year-old daughter, Trevia Williams. Hmmmm... would that mean Williams is Princess Trevia?

'Rock' was arrested for the weekend murder in Columbia. The victim was a known member of the Long Reach Crew, a Columbia gang known for drugs, assaults, and all the other fun things for which stupid suburban HoCo kids celebrate gang culture.

Joshua Rice got 30 years for strangling west-side hooker Jennifer Fishbach with a coat hanger in 2004.

If three kids and grandma were running amok and kicking the principal on a show on the Disney Channel, we'd all think it was cute.

Looks like we're finally snitching again.

Police stopped a van that was carrying more than 500 pair of fake Nikes.

The dude who threatened to "choke the life out of O'Malley" is off of house detention. So here's a question: If the government arrested everyone who had a similar thought about either O'Malley or Dixon, how much of our population would be in jail?

May 20

A man got killed at S. Broadway and Gough in Fells Point last night at about 9:00.

GBHS sophomore Christian J. Schellenschlager Jr. was arrested for killing a 49-year-old man with a bat. Schellenschlager was arrested after his mom ratted him out. So what do you think? Did his mom do the right thing? Could you rat out your kid, knowing it might mean many years in federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison?

A body that might have ties to Maryland was found in the trunk of a car in Morrisville, PA.

We can add Tony Allen to the list of dead doppelgangers in Baltimore. (The Wikipedia entry for those of you who've missed the other Tony Allen's mighty drumming skills.)

Alleged priestjacker Angelo Parker is on trial after he and his mother refused a plea deal that would have gotten him 12 years. Mama Parker says that she's leaving Angelo's fate in God's hands, which maybe isn't such a good idea for a dude who robs the clergy.

Too bad young Mr. Parker didn't go after Jeff Toohey, who was finally dismissed from the priesthood three years after pleading guilty to getting it on with a young man.

PDJ: Juan R. Payz Reyes likes 'em young and he like 'em crazy, but he likes 'em best when he gets off with a slap on the wrist.

In Annapolis, a man slammed a 14-year-old boy's head into the wall, then shot at him with what can only be described as rotten aim.

Damn, I didn't realize Queen Antoinette was in custody already! Police want no bail for her and two of her subjects, all of whom were nabbed in New York.

Carroll County hearts Oxycodone!

If I had a cheesy moustache like this dude, I probably would've turned to a life of crime too.

Like Frying Eggs on Teflon

It's the latest installment of "Murders Revisited," in which 3 of 4 homicides go unpunished.

CV Follies

... from JHU security (thanks CD!)

3 JUVENILE ARRESTS - Weapons Violations - 100 Blk. E. 30th St. - On May 17th at 7:50 PM, Baltimore Police and Campus Officers stopped three juveniles; 14, 15, and 17 years old. One of the juveniles attempted to dispose of two hammers prior to being stopped. Another juvenile had a steak knife and screwdriver in his possession. All were arrested by Baltimore Police and charged with possession of deadly weapons.

3 JUVENILE ARRESTS - Armed Robbery - 2900 Blk. Hargrove St. - On May 17th at 11:00 PM, a non-affiliate was approached by four juveniles, one of whom displayed a handgun, demanded and took money. Three of the four juveniles, 15 and 16 years old, were stopped in the 3000 Blk. N. Charles Street by Campus Officers and an off-duty Baltimore Police officer working for JHU. Baltimore Police responded and arrested the three juveniles based on a positive identification by the victim. A warrant will be obtained for a fourth juvenile involved. No injuries.

Attempt Armed Robbery - E. 26th & N. Charles Sts. - On May 15th at 7:20 PM, a senior undergraduate was approached by two unknown males in their late teens or early 20's as he walked by them at the intersection. One of the males displayed a knife and demanded the victim's property. The victim walked away from the suspects who did not follow him but were last seen walking east on E. 26th Street. No injuries. Nothing taken. The incident was reported to Campus Safety and Security on May 16th. Investigation continuing.

Auto Theft - Unit Blk. E. 30th St. - On May 16th between 12:30 AM and 6:30 PM, a JHMI employee's parked vehicle was taken. Baltimore Police responded. Investigation continuing.

Student Arrested on Alcohol Violation -- 3200 Blk. N. Calvert St. - On May 18th at 2:48 AM, as a Baltimore Police officer approached a sophomore undergraduate carrying an open container of alcohol, the student threw the container to the ground and ran into a nearby residence where he was located and arrested by Baltimore Police.

May 19

There were two murders (reported so far) over the weekend in the city: 18-year-old Valerie Barnes was shot repeatedly in a Brooklyn house on Saturday evening, and 42-year-old Jeffrey Gause was shot in his car on Sunday morning.

There were two shootings in HoCo over the weekend, and one of them was fatal.

In the Blotter, the ethics of Baltimore shine as old men are robbed and Goodwill stores are burglarized.

A catfight in Edgewood left one woman in the hospital and one in the slammer.

Cops are getting new training.

(Alleged) kid-killer Mark Castillo is scheduled for arraignment today.
UPDATE: At his arraignment today, Mark Castillo entered a not guilty plea. A NCR motion (Not Criminally Responsible) was filed with the court. Judge Timothy J. Doory continued the case to August 22, 2008 at 9:30 AM, Part 46, for trial. He remains held without bail.

(Alleged) dad-killer Danny Thompson Jr. won't get out on bail either.