In the reported Maryland appellate case of Jeter v. State, 9 Md.App. 575 (1970), cert. 261 Md. 221 (1971), Jeter agreed with an accomplice to break into a men’s clothing warehouse (maximum penalty 15 years); police responded and promptly arrested Jeter, who was unarmed. After his arrest, the accomplice still in the warehouse allegedly shot and killed a security officer. Maryland courts approved Jeter’s felony murder conviction (penalty—life in prison), even though the killing by the accomplice occurred after Jeter was already in police custody. The accomplice was later found not guilty.
In the reported Maryland appellate case of Jackson v. State, 286 Md. 430 (1979), Jackson and accomplices planned to rob a jewelry store carrying guns (maximum penalty 25 years); when police arrived, they held store employees hostage and attempted to escape. Although Jackson and his accomplices killed no one, police accidentally shot and killed a store employee and Maryland courts convicted Jackson of felony murder (penalty—life in prison).
In the reported Maryland appellate case of Stewart v. State, 65 Md.App. 372 (1985) cert den. 305 Md. 599, Stewart robbed a motel clerk with a note that read “Don’t say a word. Put all the money in this bag and no one will get hurt!” (maximum penalty 10 years). The clerk didn’t see a gun and none was found. Prior to the event, the clerk had had surgery for cancer and one lung was surgically removed. Two hours after the robbery, she felt ill, had trouble breathing, and died of a heart attack. Maryland courts, applying the felony murder rule, approved the robber’s conviction for first degree murder, eligible for a life sentence.
In the tragic 2019 killing of Baltimore area police officer Amy Caprio, four teenagers agreed to burglarize a house (maximum penalty 20 years). But while three were inside, the fourth, behind the wheel of the getaway car, saw a police officer approaching, panicked and ran her over, killing her. Applying Maryland’s felony murder rule, all four teens were eligible for life sentences although none planned to kill anyone.
