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Local News |
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| Year in Review: Murder suspect yet to stand trial |
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| By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer |
Sunday, December 28, 2008 |
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A Westminster man accused of killing a clerk at a Finksburg video store is scheduled to go on trial for murder Jan. 20, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Michael Ryan Anderson, 27, of the unit block of Winchester Avenue in Westminster, is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder, and also charges of robbery and theft.
Gary L. Hatfield, 54, of Manchester, was found dead behind the counter at H&D Movie Sales in the 200 block of Suffolk Road in Finksburg just after 11 p.m. Jan. 26.
Members of Hatfield’s family went to the store that night after becoming worried when he didn’t return home after his shift ended.
Police found a fire extinguisher near his body, which is believed to have been the murder weapon. The initial cause of death was from blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force trauma to the chest, according to police documents.
According to police documents, $1,100 was missing from the cash register when police arrived.
Anderson was interviewed Feb. 2 after going to the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack on his own, according to the Maryland State Police. He was arrested and charged early on Feb. 3.
Anderson was a night shift employee at the McDonald’s on the corner of Md. 140 and Gorsuch Road in Westminster. Anderson grew up in the Finksburg area where the murder occurred, but police said they were unaware of any connection between Anderson and Hatfield.
Anderson waived his right to a speedy trial at a hearing in Carroll County Circuit Court July 21. His attorney, Thomas Nugent Jr., told Carroll County Circuit Court Judge J. Barry Hughes the defense would need more time to examine DNA evidence provided by prosecutors.
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