Enquiring Minds Wanna Know

So I finally got around to filling out CP's Best of Baltimore poll.
OBviously this is the best blog*, and the metal transsexual in front of the train station is the best eyesore, but what about the rest? What did you guys pick for Best Scandal? Best TV newsperson? Best print journalist?

* Actually i think Anger Hangover is the best... but who doesn't want to go to that party?!

Life + 18 for Philip Airey Murder

From the SA's Office:

Judge John Addison Howard sentenced Michael Martin, 28, of the 200 block of Allwood Road to life plus 18 years in prison for the murder of Philip Airey. A Baltimore jury convicted Martin May 23, 2008 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit assault and wear/carry a dangerous weapon. Judge Howard sentenced Airey to life in prison for the murder count, 15-years, consecutive, for the conspiracy count and three-years, concurrent, for the dangerous weapon count.

On June 20, 2007 Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the scene of a car fire in a field next to an off ramp leading to West Nursery Road off of I-295. The firefighters noticed the 1993 Geo Prizm gas cap was missing, license plates were missing and the area around the car was 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’s mother reported him missing 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 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 Prizm 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, pled 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 Martin trial. Today, Judge Howard sentenced Speake to 58-years in prison, suspend all but 43-years.

Asbury, 38, pled guilty May 14, 2008 to second-degree murder and conspiracy to assault. Under terms of the plea agreement, Asbury was to testify truthfully in the Martin trial. Today, Judge Howard sentenced Asbury to 55-years in prison, suspend all but 33-years, and five-years probation.

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

August 14

Vernon Paige, who was shot yesterday, has now died.

Okay, let me get this straight. The state's Public Defender... is calling on our State's Attorney... to review cases conducted by a former State's Attorney... that is now a Public Defender? This is a level of idiocy so high that it could only happen in Baltimore Government.
(Also see CP's "Why did Ronald Hinton's lawyers not see documents that could have exonerated their client?")

A 15 year old girl's been arrested for two stabbings last May.

Mayor Dixon swears that she is trying to crack down hard on the slayings of prostitutes that have been happening. Good to know she's working hard at something.
(Also see "Love of heroin greater than fear of danger for Baltimore sex worker" and prostitute murder map from Spotcrime)

Some would call it sad, some here would call it poetic justice: A man suspected of selling drugs on his bike was hit by a car.

We'll soon know the fate of Linden Bar and Liquors.

It wouldn't be Baltimore if a few people didn't get shot or burgled, so here's the blotter. Go go gadget nonfatal offense!

- The Cynic

Really? MD is one of the few states that specifies at what age children can be left home alone.

August 13

Broadwater and Janis ask, "Who is killing the prostitutes?"
Here's a map from Spotcrime of the murders

Why did Ronald Hinton's lawyers not see documents that could have exonerated their client?

Almost 11 years in federal prison for the former proprietor of Charm City motors.

A UPS driver was shot on Caton Avenue

A man was shot to death at about 3 p.m. yesterday in the 4100 block of Barrington Avenue in the NW.

... and another man was shot to death last night on the West side.

The Ink's Christopher Skokna found murders previously unreported

"Low pay, chaos following [David W. McGuinn]'s stabbing cited in bid to preclude capital punishment"

Blotter: a lot of crappy cars stolen

Media Blabber: The Sun will launch a redesign August 24.

Local Drunk Driver Makes Good

Michael Phelps has become the Olympic-medal-winningest Marylander busted for DUI!

August 12

County police are investigating a suspiciously dead body found in the parking lot of the Excape {sic} Nightclub in the 10000-block of Pulaski Highway.

And Sunday night, a fight at a kid's 11th birthday party led to a shooting death in Harford County. "I guess he [Kevin Sorrick, 36] just snapped," said the alleged killer's gf Yvonne.

Another county What The?! A stolen truck crashed into a Hereford home, killing a sleeping woman

was the city really quieter than the 'burbs this weekend?

"Baltimore police told Federal Hill residents last night that they will maintain their increased presence in the community indefinitely, continuing the nightly patrols in the aftermath of two killings that shook up the neighborhood in June." (begging the question, where will their non-presence be maintained as a result?)

Four more to be charged in cult toddler-in-suitcase death

Sad: Veteran county officer responded to Parkville murder/suicide, had stroke, died.

Torts from TDR's Brendan Kearney:
Former CareFirst CEO William L. Jews is suing the insurance commissioner in federal court to get his full $18 million termination package back.

"A lawsuit accusing Maryland of second-class treatment of its historically black colleges and universities is unlikely to be resolved without trial, an attorney for the state conceded" yesterday.

Brothers Get Life+20 for Murder of Singer

From the SA's office:

At a hearing today, Judge Roger Brown sentenced Donte Lamont Tyner, 24, of the 3700 block of Brownbrook Court and his brother Tavon Tyner, 21, of the 2500 block of W. Lanvale Street to life in prison plus 20-years for the first-degree murder of Darrell Artis. Details:On April 3, 2008, a Baltimore City jury, found the brothers guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit firs -degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and wear, carry, transport a handgun.

On September 7, 2006, the victim, Darrell Artis age 26 of the 6300 block of Pioneer Drive was killed in the 7100 block of McClean Boulevard following an argument. The two brothers accused Artis of singing louder than others who were rapping. According to witness testimony, the two began shooting. Mr. Artis was shot 17 times by the Tyner brothers, who struck every major organ in Mr. Artis’ body.

At the sentencing, Darrell Artis’ grandmother described him as a light to their family and that he brought joy to the family through his musical talents.

Update from Margaret Burns:

"Please note for clarification of sentence:

Both Donte and Tavon Tyner were sentenced to double life sentences (concurrent) on the counts of First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder and 20-Years Consecutive -- 1st Five Years Without Parole, on the count of Use of a Handgun in the Commissioenr of a Crime of Violence."

Monday 2008

This, we don't see everyday here: A woman who goes by the name of Princess Marie (and is allegedly in a cult) has been charged with the starvation death of her child.

It wouldn't be Harm City if we didn't have some gunsmoke...

Plenty of nonfatal offenses happened this weekend, according to the Blotter. But hey, if it didn't result in someone dying, then not such a big deal right? I mean, the victims can just buy new things...

Stephen Janis and Luke Broadwater do two fine jobs in discussing the William Brown case as seen by the possible victims, and the aftermath in the community he was from.

Adam Meister discusses the oddity that is Frank Conaway, Jr. I've had a chance to meet him and his very humorous father in the past. I gotta say, Frank Jr. came across as pretty stuck up - which was kind of shocking for a guy that's a clerk working for daddy turned politician/chauffeur. Sheesh. Frank Sr., Mary, Belinda, and Frank Jr. Take that, Kennedys!

Oh, and before I forget: Free Kwame!

August 10

George Blaine, 30, was shot to death yesterday morning in the 1700 block of N. Bradford St., no suspects.

PCP, heroin and iced-tea rage in the blotter.

"City police attempted in 1999 to fire officer who is now chief of force that protects state buildings"

Margaret Burns of the prosecutor's office: "Snitch in a box" and payola defense attorneys "the rare exception to the regular criminal justice process."

New DNA evidence in Donna Dustin's cold case murder will be the talk of the Bowie High reunion.
(Another, sadder version of the story from the Ann Cap)

August 8

16-year-old Matthew Scarbourough was shot and killed when he walked in on his family's apartment being robbed.

It's My Snitch in a Box Dept: "The defense attorney in a Baltimore murder trial is accused of visiting the prosecution's main witness in jail over the weekend and trying to convince him to change his story, allegedly by asking him, "How does it feel to be a snitch? You know what happens to people when they snitch? They leave jail in a box."

"An argument between neighbors over their pit bulls ended in gunfire"
(Incident mapped by Spotcrime)

Also "Two people were shot and wounded in separate incidents this morning"

.. in happier news, July's homicides were (reportedly) the fewest since 2001! :)

Media Blabber
Did you Know? The Library of Congress collects materials in virtually every format and representing all subject matter, with the exceptions of clinical medicine and technical agriculture (those subjects are collected by the National Library of Medicine and the National Agricultural Library.) Their holdings also do not overlap with the topic areas represented in the the library of William W. Smith.

I think I know where all of our commentators went yesterday-- they were typing on Meister's "Linden Liquors killer" post.
Speaking of Examiners, typo of the day from "Health Examiner" Dr. Delia Chiaramonte: "Controversy brews over prostrate testing." (Isn't is crazy how the "Examiners'" posts are mixed in with the news stories on the main page-- as if there was no difference between the two?!)

40 Years for Parolee/Home Invader

From the SA's office:

The Honorable John C. Themelis sentenced Michael Hayes, AKA Michael Evans, to 40-years {sic} in prison today after a jury convicted him on June 10, 2008 of armed robbery, theft over $500, first-degree burglary and unauthorized use following a 3-day jury trial[.]

Hayes, 27, of the 3200 block of Magnolia Ave was paroled on July 11, 2007 and 16-days {sic} later Baltimore police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery and home invasion in the 6400 block of Everall Avenue. The victim testified that he was walking from his mailbox to his front door about 6 PM when Hayes and another male approached him and pointed a silver handgun in his face and forced entry to his home. The men demanded money and hit the victim in the face. The armed robbers ransacked the home demanding guns and money. As the victim’s wife arrived home, the gunmen fled in the victim’s car with personal property. The car was located in the 5600 block of Farndale Avenue within 30-minutes {sic} of the incident. The defendant’s fingerprint was located at the crime scene and he was identified in a photo array.

15 Years for Man Who Kidnapped & Shot Hack Cabbie

From the SA's office:

This morning Judge Robert Kershaw sentenced Raymond Saunders, 21, of the 2200 block of Sydney Avenue, to life suspend all but 15-years in prison with 3-years supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder and 5-years for the use of a handgun in a crime of violence after he plead guilty to the facts of the case. The sentences will run concurrently.

The elements of the offenses to which Saunders has plead guilty are as follows: On April 11, 2007 at 11:25 am in the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court, police officers found Michael Storm bleeding profusely after being shot in the chest and left arm. Mr. Storm reported that he had been operating as a “Hack” when he met Raymond Saunders to transport him to 2400 block of Wilgrey Court. After exiting the vehicle, and while Mr. Storm was waiting in his vehicle on another patron, Saunders returned to the vehicle to inquire about his cell phone believing he had left it in the car. When the phone was not found in the vehicle, Saunders became agitated with Storm. Storm entered the dwelling with Saunders in an effort to help him find the missing phone insisting to him that he did not have the phone. Saunders became more irate and held Mr. Storm captive at gunpoint. During the hours of captivity Saunders forced Storm to drive him around at gunpoint, accusing him of stealing the cell phone, threatening him and insisting the phone be returned. They returned to the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court when Saunder’s {sic} became irate and shot Michael Storm. Though Michael Storm suffered extensive internal injuries he was able to identify Raymond Saunders as the person who shot him after being held captive for 11-hours. Other witnesses present in the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court identified Saunders as the shooter. Raymond Saunders fled to New York and was arrested there by the Warrant Apprehension Task Force and the New York Police Department.

15 years for all that? i thought kidnapping was usually considered kind of a big deal!

Sex Offenses Real and Imaginary

"Lawyers for a former Catholic priest and the Archdiocese of Baltimore say they are close to settling a sexual abuse case filed by the parents of a man who died of a drug overdose, allegedly as a result of the priest’s actions 17 years ago."

BP: remember how we said Sergeant Smith was a drug-addled pervert? Our bad!

Suspected serial sex predator/murderer William V. Brown may face more charges.

Baltimore County police have obtained arrest warrants for four convicted sex offenders, and are asking for the public's help in locating them.

Meister: "It's time to combine two of my favorite subjects: Patricia Jessamy and Linden Bar and Liquors." (don't miss the comments!)

It's the case of the Baltimore Raven and the missing insurance $$

Thursday... bang bang bang!

A man was shot to death at about 1:30 this morning in the 500 block of Castle Drive in the Lake Walker neighborhood.

The lead-based love-fest continues in Baltimore this morning, as three men were shot last night and a kid was shot after midnight today.

So it turns out that five of those involved in the Quintuple shooting (yes, Quintuple Shooting) may be connected to the Bloods. And some people in this town think there aren’t any Gangs…

For all of you who think that your boss is bad: Police are now holding Alice Collins for the murder of Elizabeth Mary Queensbury, which stemmed from a robbery attempt.

Okay, so some cop we were made to be a bad guy is actually one of the good guys. Great – not even the police can differentiate anymore.

News flash: If you say in a commercial “Our car deals are so low you’ll think I’m on drugs!”, you aren’t supposed to literally have them.

Sheila Dixon doesn’t care about poor people. Well, at least someone does, I guess…

August 6

What the?! Five people shot "in the lower body" in the SW last night, police say they were Bloods. mapped by Spotcrime

The man killed on West Fayette last night was ID'd as Jeffrey Alston of Catonsville.

The Ink has four murders from last week, plus updates

A man was robbed and shot while fetching Chinese takeout on Harford Road.

Since Vic wanted to know what happened with the shooting at Robert E. Lee, maybe someone else wondered also-- it turned out that it was a lesbian-stalker type situation-- Sirlilar Jewelle Stokes, 19, female patron of the 2 O'Clock strip Club, lured 18-year-old dancer Ashley Davis into her car, took her to the park at dawn, shot her, then returned to the same club later that afternoon, where she was arrested.
Aside, have you ever been to Pride? There are quite a lot of "Snoops" in this town.

Feds to Seek Big D For Lackl Murder

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek the death penalty in the prosecution of Patrick Albert Byers, Jr. for the murder of Carl Stanley Lackl.