Maryland
Mom of teen repeat offender frustrated with Maryland law barring kids from criminal prosecution
Maryland mom of teenage repeat offender cries for help
FOX 5’s reporting this week on the 12-year-old suspected serial luxury car and e-scooter thief in Maryland has been generating lots of discussion – especially online. What can be done to stop the boy and get him help? FOX 5’s Bob Barnard spoke with one of the people who’s reached out to us about the story, concerned about their own child.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. – The story of a 12-year-old accused serial thief, who police say has stolen luxury cars and e-scooters in Maryland has been generating lots of discussion, especially online.
What can be done to stop the boy and get him help and what about the parent’s responsibility?
One single mom who also lives in Maryland spoke to FOX 5 Wednesday, describing the struggles she’s faced with her own child.
Christine Taylor says she’s exhausted and frustrated because she’s been going through almost the exact same thing with her young son.
“My biggest fear is getting a phone call or a police coming saying he’s dead. That’s my biggest fear. He clearly knows this because he sitting right here,” Taylor said.
Taylor is the mother of a 13-year-old boy who’s been getting in trouble for a number of years now.
How a 12-year-old has evaded arrest after string of car thefts in Montgomery County
“It started off with minor stuff like kicking trash cans, stealing packages from people’s doors, stealing from stores to stealing cars and crashing them,” Taylor said.
She says her son’s case has been referred to Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services but nothing’s ever come of it.
“And the officer actually said this in front of him: unless he murders somebody there’s nothing they can do about it,” Taylor said. “That was when I noticed that he went downhill with his crimes.”
She says she’s been watching FOX 5’s coverage of the 12-year-old suspected serial car and scooter thief has touched a nerve. That young suspect is accused of more than a dozen thefts in Montgomery County and College Park.
“I do believe for some of these crimes that are being committed there does need to be some sort of jail time for them,” Taylor said. “I’m not saying I want my son to be in jail but there’s not going to be a lesson learned from it and it’s just going to get worse and worse as these kids get older. The crimes are going to get worse. I’ve seen it myself with my son.”
12-year-old accused of Maryland car dealership break-ins released to parents, strikes again: police
Taylor says she’s also been investigated for neglect.
“I actually requested for it to go to court,” she told FOX 5. “I thought if it went to court I could get proper help for him.”
Taylor says there’s a reason her 13-year-old was sitting at home at 1 p.m. on a school day.
“There’s no proper placement for him because of his disabilities and behavior. A lot of schools have been declining him saying they can’t meet his needs,” Taylor said. “I’ve had multiple IEP meetings with the Board of Education – actually have one coming up on Friday. He’s actually attended school in the past year three days. That’s it. So that also is concerning because it gives him more free time to commit crimes.”
As for the 12-year-old suspected serial car thief, he actually lives in D.C., so that complicates the situation for him and his mother in terms of getting services for the crimes he’s committed in Maryland.
FOX 5 asked D.C. police if they had a comment on this case. They said they were not even aware of that boy’s case.
Maryland
Multiple 911 callers report shots fired at Maryland’s Myrtle Point Park
ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — An investigation is underway into a shooting at Myrtle Point Park in St. Mary’s County on Wednesday evening.
The sheriff’s office said multiple 911 calls were received around 6:53 p.m. alerting to shots fired. However, no injuries have been reported.
SEE ALSO | Man found dead after being run over by vehicle in Prince George’s County
Myrtle Point Park is a waterside park located in California, Maryland, with a beach, picnic area and trails. It remains closed Thursday while deputies continue to investigate.
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If you have any information on the shooting, call 301-475-8008.
Maryland
Storms move into Maryland Wednesday evening
Maryland
Md. Department of Education committee begins search for permanent Prince George’s schools chief – WTOP News
Current Superintendent Shawn Joseph was appointed June 2025 by County Executive Aisha Braveboy (D) to replace former Superintendent Millard House II after the teachers’ union gave House a vote of no confidence.
This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.
The Maryland State Department of Education announced the next steps Monday in the process to find a permanent superintendent for Prince George’s County public schools, the state’s second-largest school system.
Current Superintendent Shawn Joseph was appointed June 2025 by County Executive Aisha Braveboy (D) to replace former Superintendent Millard House II after the teachers’ union gave House a vote of no confidence.
Because Joseph’s position is for the current 2025-26 school year, state law requires a three-member search committee be named to help find a permanent leader.
State Superintendent Carey Wright selected state Board of Education member James Bell Jr. to chair the committee. Gov. Wes Moore (D) appointed two county residents, Jennifer Avelar and Gordon L. Sampson, to join the panel.
Avelar serves as a C.O.A.S.T. (Creating Opportunities for Academic Success and Transfer) adviser at Prince George’s Community College, managing pre-enrollment advising for recruitment and the dual enrollment program for high school students. Sampson worked in the county’s public schools as a teacher, instructional specialist and principal from 1969 until his retirement in 2000. He became a member of the Bowie State University Foundation’s board of directors in 2017 and served as chair for five years.
PoliHire, a Washington, D.C. based search firm, will partner with Braveboy and the county’s school board in a national recruitment effort to find the next superintendent.
The department said the firm helped solicit feedback from various stakeholders to not only develop a leadership profile, but also garner responses from about 8,600 people in a community survey “on school system perspectives and qualities in the next superintendent.” The survey ended Friday.
Candidates interested in the position must submit applications by April 22. Once received, the committee will work with the firm to screen applications, conduct background checks and interview candidates.
Three finalists will be forwarded to Braveboy by May 8.
Braveboy has until June 1 to forward a candidate to the county school board, which must make a decision by June 30. Once the county executive selects a candidate, which must be done by June 1, that person’s name will be sent to the county school board for its approval by June 30.
Final approval rests with the state superintendent, for a schools chief to serve a four-year term.
“We remain committed to a transparent, inclusive, and thoughtful process.” Bell said in a statement Monday. “Over the coming weeks, committee members will carefully assess each applicant’s qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for advancing student achievement and supporting our educators and school communities.
“The committee will keep the Prince George’s County Public Schools community informed as we move forward. Our goal is to recommend highly qualified candidates who will lead Prince George’s County Public Schools into its next chapter of excellence,” he said.
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