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Man faces extradition in connection with double homicide

On Behalf of | Feb 2, 2021 | Violent crimes

Officials in Maryland have initiated extradition proceedings to secure the return of a 49-year-old man wanted in connection with a double homicide. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the man returned to his Washington, D.C., home after shooting two women during the early morning hours of Jan. 21. Police in the nation’s capital took the man into custody on Jan. 23. He remains in custody pending extradition.

Women shot in their home

Emergency operators dispatched CCSO deputies to a townhouse on Hannover Court in Waldorf at approximately 1:00 a.m. after local residents called 911 to report gunshots. When they arrived, the deputies found the front door of the residence open and two women inside with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Paramedics subsequently pronounced the 22-year-old and 24-year-old women dead. The CCSO quickly identified the man as their prime suspect, but the agency has not said what led them to come to this conclusion or revealed a possible motive for the crime. A CCSO representative did say that the man knew both of the victims.

The extradition process

The extradition process begins when an individual or individuals convicted or accused of committing a crime flee from one state to another. The governor of the demanding state then makes an extradition request to the governor of the asylum state. The demanding state is the state where the crime took place and the asylum state is the state where the individual or individuals fled to. Once extradition papers are received, the asylum state schedules a hearing to determine whether to issue a rendition warrant and surrender the individual or individuals.

The extradition process

Experienced criminal defense attorneys may challenge extradition by filing writs of habeas corpus. This is done when there are questions about the identity of the individual facing extradition or the legitimacy of the process. Extradition hearings are not held to determine guilt or innocence. If you are accused of one or more violent crimes and face extradition, an attorney could recommend not challenging the demanding state’s request if doing so would be futile and you would prefer to assert your innocence in court or enter into a plea agreement.