Maryland State Police investigating possible Finksburg murder-suicide

Maryland State Police investigating possible Finksburg murder-suicide

10/14/2010

By Kevin Dayhoff

(Also see: FAMILY FEUD — Finksburg man kills former neighbor, self, in ...
Investigative Voice  By Kevin Dayhoff Maryland State Police are continuing its investigation of a murder-suicide in the Finksburg area of Carroll County just north of the ...)  http://investigativevoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6277:family-feud&catid=25:the-project&Itemid=44

Maryland State Police are continuing its investigation of a possible murder-suicide in the Finksburg area of the county.

Just after midnight, earlier this morning, the State Police were heard on the police scanner responding to 911 calls reports that gun shots were heard in the 1500-block of Pilgrim Lane, near Sandymount Road between MD Route 140 and the town of Patapsco.

When the troopers arrived on the scene they “found the victim lying in his driveway with what appeared to be gunshot wounds,” according to a police report by Maryland State Police spokesperson Greg Shipley.

“The victim is identified as Steven W. Focht, 48, of the 1500-block of Pilgrim Lane, Finksburg, Md.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  His body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy,” reports Shipley.

State Police quickly “developed information on a possible suspect and troopers determined the suspect’s vehicle was also at the scene,” according to information gathered from the police scanner and later confirmed in Shipley’s police report. 

“Troopers determined the suspect’s vehicle was one of the vehicles in the victim’s driveway.”  According to information gather from the police scanner – and later confirmed by Shipley, “Troopers established a perimeter around the area and conducted a search for the suspect throughout the early morning.  The search for the suspect involved a State Police helicopter, K-9 units, a tracking team, the Special Tactical Assault Team Element, and troopers patrolling throughout the area.” 

The State Police homicide unit, assisted by members of the Westminster Barrack Criminal Investigation Section and crime scene technicians from the State Police Forensic Sciences Division, also responded to conduct an investigation.

Hours ago, shortly after 7 a.m. this morning, the suspect in the case was found and was pronounced dead in the backyard of a nearby residence in the 2400-block of Shawnee Drive.

Earlier this morning, the identity of the suspect was being withheld until family can be notified.  In a police report just released, “The suspect is identified as Gregory A. Martin, 51, of the 4600-block of Doncrest Lane, Sykesville, Md.”

According to Shipley, “As daylight appeared, a trooper on the perimeter saw the body of a man lying in the back yard of a residence in the 2400-block of Shawnee Drive, Finksburg.  This is a short distance away from the victim’s home and in the same neighborhood.  This was also identified as the suspect’s previous home and where his estranged wife still lives. 

EMS personnel determined on the scene, that Martin was deceased.  State Police investigators recovered a .357 caliber handgun next to Martin’s body. 

The preliminary investigation indicates Martin and Focht had an ongoing dispute that apparently began when the two were neighbors, according to Shipley  “State Police had responded to the neighborhood on two separate occasions for disputes between the two in 2007 and 2008.  No criminal prosecutions resulted in either incident.” 

“Investigators believe from the initial evidence that Focht arrived home from work shortly after midnight today and Martin pulled into the driveway behind him. 

“A confrontation occurred in the driveway and Focht was shot in the upper torso multiple times.  Investigators believe Martin then ran to the backyard of his previous residence and took his own life.” 

This is a developing story, check back for additional details as they become known.

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Early morning lights Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Early morning lights

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Heavy traffic and early morning lights – minutes before 6 am – at the intersection of Route 140 and 91 in Finksburg, as we head out of town for New York City for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog
20090317 NYC St Pat Parade early morn lights

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20080127 Maryland State Police investigate an apparent homicide in Carroll County

Maryland State Police investigate an apparent homicide in Carroll County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2008

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE APPARENT HOMICIDE IN CARROLL COUNTY

(Finksburg, MD) Maryland State Police are continuing their investigation this morning into the apparent murder of a Carroll County man whose body was found last night inside the Finksburg video store where he worked.

The man is identified as Gary L. Hatfield, 54, of the 3300-block of Oak Street, Manchester, Md. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly after 11:00 p.m. yesterday, a 9-1-1 call for an injured person dispatched Maryland State Police from the Westminster Barracks and emergency medical personnel to H and D Movie Sales, a store that buys and sells videotapes, in a strip shopping center in the 2000-block of Suffolk Road, Finksburg. Troopers responded and found the victim lying near the counter in the rear of the store. Fire department personnel arrived and determined the victim was deceased.

Members of the victim’s family found him in the store and called 9-1-1. They had gone to the store to look for him when he did not return from work at his usual time. They said the business closes at 10:00 p.m.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded, as did crime scene technicians from the State Police Forensic Sciences Division. They were assisted by troopers from the Westminster Barracks Criminal Investigation Section. A State Police bloodhound team conducted a search of the area.

Investigators saw what appeared to be injuries on the victim’s body. The cause and manner of death have not been determined at this time. The victim’s body has been transported to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.

Anyone with information about this investigation, or who may have been in the Tower Center shopping area between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. yesterday, is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barracks at 410-386-3000.

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CONTACT: Mr. Gregory Shipley

Office of Media Communications & Marketing

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

19470912 - 60 years ago today: Congoleum Rug Company Damaged By Fire

19470912 - 60 years ago today: Congoleum Rug Company Damaged By Fire

Democratic Advocate, September 12, 1947.

19 Pieces of Equipment From 13 Companies Bring Blaze Under Control In Large Warehouse At Cedarhurst

—The Congoleum plant at Cedarhurst, along the W. M. R. R. suffered its second heavy loss by fire Monday night when the rag warehouse caught fire from combustion. The building was sheet iron and 700 feet long. The first occurred years ago.

The following fire departments fought the blaze: Arcadia, Owings Mills, Pikesville; Sykesville, Boring, Glyndon, Reisterstown, Hereford, Cockeysville, Towson, Ellicott City, Pleasant Valley, Union Bridge, Mount Airy, Manchester, Hampstead and Westminster.

It was estimated that 300 firemen with 19 pumpers poured water into the rag piles for several hours before it was brought under control. During the height of the fire, flames were visible a mile and a half away, attracting hundreds of spectators.

A plant official reported that the warehouse was filled to capacity with from 5,000 to 10,000 tons of baled rags. No estimate of the damage was given by company officials.

The warehouse stands beside the North Branch of the Patapsco River, from which firemen pumped water, and is separated from another large building by railroad tracks.

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