Annapolis, Maryland – An Anne Arundel County jury on Monday found Marquis Mayo guilty of the kidnapping and execution-style murder of David Winchester Jr. outside an Annapolis area middle school last spring, State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess announced.
Mayo, 35, was found guilty of Felony First-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Use of a Firearm in a Violent Crime.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2025 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in Annapolis.
"This case illustrates the need for the Felony Murder laws in Maryland that hold every person responsible when individuals take part in violent felonies - such as robbery and kidnapping - and someone is murdered during that felony," Leitess said. "Currently, our Maryland General Assembly has a bill before it where legislators propose to curtail the use of Felony Murder law so that all of those involved in the felony won't be liable for the death of a victim.
"This case was one that involved four individuals present when David Winchester was violently kidnapped and held inside a car while two of the individuals committed an armed home invasion at his mother's home, and then later executed him. We are fortunate that we could bring justice for Mr. Winchester's family, who were themselves victims in this case. Police and prosecutors should not be prevented from holding violent felons accountable when those felonies also involve the death of victims. I am thankful to the jury for this verdict, which I hope leads to some closure for the family and loved ones of Mr. Winchester."
On March 28, 2024, officers with the Annapolis Police Department were dispatched to 935 Spa Road for a report of a man lying face down in a wooded area near the track and field of Wiley H. Bates Middle School.
Officers located the victim, identified as David Winchester Jr., 47, deceased with gunshots to the back of his head. He was found on top of his pants, which had been removed prior to the killing. Detectives canvassed the area and found a nearby resident who said they heard what sounded like two pops between 1:30 and 3 a.m.
During their investigation, officers observed footage from License Plate Readers, which showed a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on West Street around 1:45 a.m. Roughly 10 minutes later, security footage from Wiley H. Bates Middle School's track and field showed headlights from a vehicle turn into the track and field parking lot. Footage then showed two quick flashes of light, consistent to the victim's two gunshot wounds, before the vehicle fled the scene.
Just after 2 a.m., additional footage showed the vehicle traveling on Taylor Avenue, leaving the Annapolis area.
Hours after locating Mr. Winchester, Annapolis detectives were informed he had been abducted in Baltimore City overnight. Baltimore police advised that Mr. Winchester's mother was awoken by a knock at her door with a suspect announcing that her son was being held hostage in a car outside. As she began to open the door, the woman saw a handgun and tried shutting it back, but the two men forced their way in.
Startled by the noise, the woman's daughter looked down the stairwell and saw a man pointing a handgun at her mother's head while demanding money. A second man stood nearby with a rifle. The daughter turned and fled to her mother's room with the man armed with a rifle chasing behind. He tried to break in, then fired two shots through the door. The daughter and her young child were uninjured.
Both men then fled the home without money, driving away in a blue car with Mr. Winchester inside. Detectives identified the vehicle's registered owner as Monae Fincher of Baltimore. It was soon learned that Fincher was the ex-wife of Jamar Fincher, who had recently been released from prison. A confidential source told police of Mayo's involvement in the killing. All three were charged.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorney Glen Neubauer, Assistant State's Attorney Joshua Adrian, and Assistant State's Attorney Shane Nolan on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County, with the Honorable Cathleen M. Vitale presiding.