Man takes deal and pleads guilty in ex-girlfriend's murder
Prosecution agrees not to pursue five other charges
By Kevin Rector krector@patuxent.com
Posted 12/01/09
Brian Mark Heacock, 48, of the 2700 block of Ottawa Avenue in Morrell Park, was to go to trial Dec. 9 for the Dec. 18, 2008, murder of Karen Marie Shell, 48, of the 1700 block of Arbutus Avenue.
Instead, attorneys in the case struck a deal in which Heacock pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder charge and Assistant State’s Attorney Sandy Steeves, a prosecutor in the case, agreed not to pursue five separate charges relating to the incident — including first-degree assault, armed robbery, robbery, first-degree burglary and theft of more than $500.
The state also agreed not to pursue a life sentence without the possibility of parole, according to Jennifer Aist, the public defender representing Heacock.
Assistant State's Attorney Marsha Russell, another prosecutor in the case, confirmed that, but added that the state is pursuing a life sentence for Heacock.
She said that the terms of Heacock's sentence would affect the chances of his being granted parole.
Heacock was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. Dec. 19 outside the post office in Arbutus after calling 911 at about 1:10 a.m. and telling police that he had stabbed Shell, whom he said was his girlfriend, during an argument in her home the night before, police said.
He had driven off in her car after the argument, police said.
Police found Shell dead in her home with at least three stab wounds, police said.
Heacock will be sentenced March 3.
This story was updated Dec. 7.
user comments (7)
user bettyb00924 says...
how dare the states att. office make a deal with that piece of crap he addmitted to what he has done broke into her home while she was asleep and stabbed her to death took her money and her car and left her there to die. He was on probation for domestic violence against her from before so she did everything by law she had to do and he somehow is gonna be able to come home on probation one day what a bunch of bull this is what is wrong with our justice system and I will not stand for it he murdered her in cloud blood and you wanna make a deal with him now way willl I allow that to happen. This is what jail are made for people like him who has previous charges which included stalking rape i can go on and on why should he be aloud a second chance who is he who take the life of another human being and then be able to come home and probably do something else to another person. These State's Att. would not make a deal if it was someone from there family who was brutally murdered in there home while they slept how dare they.
Posted 1:25 PM, 12.04.09
user stevetowson says...
The height of LAZY!!!! Now we have an admitted killer that will be up for parole, and likely get it because a prosecutor thought that doing his job was too much trouble. All in all, a perfect example of why so many wannabe thugs think they'll get away with crime(and too often do), and why so much of the public is forced to deal with crime on a regular basis.
Posted 2:00 PM, 12.04.09
user bettyb00924 says...
i just talked to the states att. office and this is not true this paper needs to get its facts straight before they print something like this the states att name is marsha russell and assured me this is incorrect and that they are asking the judge for a life sentence
Posted 2:41 PM, 12.04.09
user augieboy says...
bettyb, first of all the paper, in this case Kevin, has referenced "according to the public defender", not the States Attorney: "The state also agreed not to pursue a life sentence without the possibility of parole, according to Jennifer Aist, the public defender representing Heacock." And since there isn't a trial, there has obviously been a plea agreement, and sentencing is scheduled for March 3rd... Maybe you have been led astray?
Posted 11:13 PM, 12.04.09
user stevetowson says...
Betty, the paper quoted a source, so the paper is only wrong if the source quoted is wrong. One thing is clear, either the paper's source, or your source is wrong. Perhaps Kevin Rector can provide some detailed clarifacation here, but Augie has a point not to be taken lightly, which is that a deal was clearly struck.
Posted 9:27 AM, 12.05.09
user becky24 says...
they better hope that he gets a life sentence for what he did, the paper is wrong and thats why they changed it because i have the paper that they posted first an now they wanna get on here and change it!!!! all i know is he is a worthless piece of shit and he deserves everything he has coming to him!!!!!! rip aunt karen we all misss you an love you soooooo much
Posted 6:47 PM, 12.09.09
user ljoy says...
Brian Heacock is a cold blooded murderer. It takes a big man to break into a 100 lb. womans house and stab her to death while she is sleeping. She thought there was some good in this man and we all know he was an abuser , rapist and now a killer. He will do it again if he is not put away forever. NO DEAL
Posted 8:33 PM, 02.10.10
Advertisement
most popular
- read
- emailed
Advertisement
Advertisement