A teenager suspected in the slaying of a D.C. taxi cab driver last year was indicted in the fatal shooting of a woman in Waldorf, Md.
Teresa Bass, 40, was walking her dog with her husband, Jerry Bass, in the Hampshire neighborhood Oct. 26 when both were shot, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. They were taken to an area hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead. Jerry Bass was seriously injured with multiple gunshot wounds.
A Charles County grand jury returned an indictment Monday against 17-year-old Joshua Mebane charging him with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, multiple counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and possessing a handgun under the age of 21. If convicted on all counts, he faces two life sentences plus 68 years.
“Unless new facts emerge, this case does not meet the legal criteria that would allow the court to impose the death penalty,” Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington said.
Mebane and Linda Bury, who authorities said began dating after meeting on a social network the night of the Waldorf slaying, were arrested in the death of Quadar Muhammad, whose body was found in a burning car in the 1400 block of Brentwood Parkway NE. According to a court document, Bury initially told police that she and Mebane were in a car accident with the driver. She later said that they were staying at a Motel 6 when they decided they needed money, walked to the Greyhound bus station and hailed a cab. Mebane allegedly told the driver to take them to the back of Hamilton Junior High School near their motel. He also asked the driver if he could break a $50 bill, and the driver said he could, Bury told police. When they arrived, Mebane shot the driver in the back of the head, Bury told police. The car then accelerated and crashed into a tree Bury said.
“Since the District currently has Mr. Mebane in their jail for an equally serious case, they will prosecute their case first,” Covington said. “As soon as his guilt or innocence has been determined in D.C., he will be brought to Charles County to stand trial on our charges. I am probably being overly optimistic, but I am hoping to have Mr. Mebane in Charles County around summertime.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images