20071103 Carroll County Man Charged With Murder Of His Mother

Carroll County Man Charged With Murder Of His Mother

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 3, 2007

CARROLL COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF HIS MOTHER

(Finksburg, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested and charged a Carroll County man in connection with the murder of his mother, whose body was found in her home last night by a concerned neighbor.

The victim has been tentatively identified as Christine R. Windstein, 57, of the unit-block of East Mayer Street, Finksburg, Md. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been transported to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy that will confirm the cause and manner of death.

The accused is identified as Eric R. Yates, 39, the son of the victim who resided with her. After consultation with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, State Police investigators have charged Yates with first and second degree murder and first and second degree assault. He is currently incarcerated at the Carroll County Detention

Center and will appear before a court commissioner later today.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barracks received a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor of the victim. Troopers responded to the trailer park community and were told by the neighbor that he had gone to check the welfare of the victim because he had not seen her in several days, which was unusual. He entered the unlocked trailer and found the deceased victim inside.

Criminal investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Westminster Barracks, as well as crime scene technicians from the Forensic Sciences Division, responded to the scene to continue the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and the scene was processed for evidence.

The victim had sustained what appear to be multiple stab wounds.

Investigators recovered a knife inside the residence that is being forwarded to the State Police Forensic Science Laboratory along with other evidence for examination.

During the investigation, information was developed that identified the victim’s son as a suspect. State Police broadcast a lookout for Yates at about 11:00 p.m.

A short time later, officers from the Westminster Police Department found Yates lying on a bench near the Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library on Main Street.

Yates was transported to the Westminster Barracks and, after further investigation, was charged with his mother’s murder early this morning.

A motive for the murder remains unclear at this time. The exact time of the victim’s murder has not been verified, but investigators believe she may have been dead since earlier this week.

The investigation is continuing.

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CONTACT: Mr. Gregory Shipley

Office of Media Communications & Marketing

410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)