Maryland
1975 murder of Maryland woman solved with help of old cassette tape and mugshot of victim
The 1975 murder of a Maryland woman was finally solved with the help of an old cassette tape and the mugshot of the victim, authorities announced Tuesday.
The cold case of Roseann Sturtz, who was strangled to death after meeting her assailant at a bar on Aug. 24, 1975, was a mystery for decades until Howard County police revived the probe late last year and uncovered evidence a convicted killer already in prison committed the crime.
Detectives discovered a 1981 audio tape in which Charles William Davis Jr., then incarcerated at Jessup Correctional Institute, was asked about the murder in exchange for not facing charges in the case.
At the time, Davis could not identify Sturtz, who lived in Baltimore and went by Ann, as one of his victims after he was shown a photo taken of her several years before her murder, police said.
But Howard County police Cpl. Wade Zufall then brought Davis from the same jail to police headquarters last year to interview him again 44 years later.
He showed Davis a more recent photo of Sturtz – her in a mugshot — from a month before she was killed.
This time he identified her as one of his victims and admitted to the slaying.
Footage released from the interview shows Sturtz nodding his head as he took a look at the photo.
“In November 2024, we were grateful to have all the case details, learned Roseann’s actual date of death and receive the closure we have been praying for all these years — finally put to rest the answers we never had,” Sturtz’s family said in a statement through the police department.
Davis told police after meeting Sturtz at a bar, the pair got into an argument before the murder, Zufall said.
Davis landed on authorities’ radar in 1981 after police studied Davis’ confirmed victims and compared them to Sturtz, Zufall said during a press conference.
Davis can’t be charged with the murder, but is already in prison for life for other killings.
“His main reason why he wanted to talk to me … was he wanted to give closure to the family,” Zufall said.
A homeowner’s son sold tickets online for a large July 4th house party in Harford County that turned deadly shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office said the party in the 2300 block of Willow Vale Drive in Fallston attracted about 100 people, and armed security was hired. Outside of the home, a 34-year-old man was critically injured, and a 23-year-old man died after a shooting.
Officers are investigating and still searching for the shooters.
“All we know is that the party ended right around 12 o’clock, there was armed security at the party, and that individuals were leaving the house, walking up the driveway, going into the street, and some type of altercation took place up on the street, which resulted in gunfire,” said Col. William Davis, with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Armed security hired, tickets sold for party
Investigators said the homeowner was out of town, and the son hosted a party on the Fourth of July, selling tickets online. Armed security was hired to monitor the party.
Shortly after midnight, police said an altercation led to two people being shot.
A 34-year-old man from Owings Mills, found in the garage with multiple gunshot wounds, was airlifted to the hospital. Jordan Jennings, 23, from Windsor Mill, was taken by party guests to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputies said the armed security was present during the shooting, but it’s not clear what role they played.
“If you have to hire armed security to be at your house for a party, it’s probably a good idea not to have that party,” Col. Davis said. “Because you’re actually saying, at that point in time, there’s a possibility that something bad could happen.”
Deputies investigating Fourth of July party shooting
Col. Davis said everyone whom investigators identified at the party was not from Harford County.
Deputies are reviewing video, witness interviews and evidence to determine who fired the shots and the motive.
“We’re still working through all that, with the shell casings and video and interviews, and all that, so we’re still not 100% sure how all that went down, but we hope to have some answers pretty soon,” Col. Davis said.
Col. Davis said no calls for service were made to that address prior to the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Harford County Sheriff’s office at 443-567-7201.
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A man died, and another was seriously injured, after a shooting at a Maryland house party attended by about 100 people, shortly after midnight on Sunday, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to what they called “a chaotic scene” in the 2300 block of Willow Vale Drive in Fallston, in Harford County.
A 34-year-old man, found with multiple gunshot wounds, was taken by air to a trauma center in critical condition. A 23-year-old man died after he was taken to the hospital by others who attended the party.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is seeking witnesses who can provide information about the shooting.
Deputies said the shooting appears to be isolated to people who were attending the party.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Thumma at 443-567-7201.
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