Tag Archives: Manslaughter

EDGEWOOD WOMAN SENTENCED TO 180 YEARS FOR 2019 ARSON

Date: July 16, 2025
RE: State v. Bobbie Sue Hodge

On July 1, 2025, Bobbie Sue Hodge, 66, of Edgewood, Maryland, was sentenced to life in prison, suspending all but 180 years to serve for a 2019 arson that killed four individuals. This case, previously prosecuted in 2022, was remanded by the Appellate Court of Maryland for a new trial after the original trial court did not conduct a hearing to determine whether Hodge had requested to discharge her counsel prior to trial. This new conviction and sentence will ensure that Hodge serves more time than she would have under her original 2022 sentence before being eligible for parole.

Facts presented in support of the conviction proved that on May 9, 2019, a dwelling fire was reported at 1962 Simons Court in Edgewood at approximately 2:30 a.m. The Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company responded to extinguish the fire and rescue occupants. Three residents perished in the fire from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. A fourth resident was rescued by firefighters but succumbed to their injuries eight months later. Three other residents escaped the fire, one of whom sustained serious injuries while leaping from a top-floor window.

A joint investigation was conducted by the Office of the State Fire Marshall, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to determine the origin and cause of the fire. From the investigation, it was learned that Bobbie Sue Hodge lived in a room in the basement of the residence and had escaped the fire fully clothed with her belongings and personal documents. It was learned that Hodge was to be evicted from the residence, had repeatedly left the kitchen stove on, and had made comments that she should burn the residence down. She was also seen by witnesses moving away from a couch on the second floor as the fire started. The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary, resulting from deliberate acts of introducing an open flame to combustibles. The fire damage extended to five adjacent townhouses, causing significant property loss.

Hodge was sentenced by the Honorable Paul W. Ishak to 40 years of incarceration for each of the four counts of First-Degree Felony Murder and 20 years of incarceration for three counts of Second-Degree Assault. The sentences run consecutively for an aggregate sentence of 180 years to serve.

Following the hearing, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey commented: “It can be very challenging to retry cases that were already successfully prosecuted when they are remanded for retrial. However, I am proud of the work my office does each day to seek justice for victims, no matter the obstacles and circumstances. Despite the hurdles, my office was able to secure a new sentence that will ensure that Bobbie Sue Hodge is never a danger to society again.”

State’s Attorney Healey thanks Deputy State’s Attorney David Ryden and Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Allen for securing this significant plea and sentence. Ms. Healey also thanks Master Deputy Selvage of the Office of the State Fire Marshall, Detective Burns from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and Special Agent Herb from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their thorough investigation of this case. Ms. Healey also recognizes the members of the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company for their heroic actions in their rescue attempts of the victims of this crime and for saving additional lives with their swift action.

MAXIMUM SENTENCE IN NEGLIGENT MANSLAUGHTER CASE

Date: May 30, 2025
Re: State v. Jared Anzelc and Shanna Anzelc

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Jared and Shanna Anzelc were sentenced in the Circuit Court for Harford County before the Honorable Judge Alex Allman following their prior guilty pleas in relation to a 2023 Driving Under the Influence incident resulting in the death of eighty-year-old Monkton woman.

Evidence presented in support of those guilty pleas proved that on May 7, 2023, after playing a round of golf at the Mountain Branch Golf Club, Jared Anzelc consumed alcohol at the bar despite being on probation for a 2022 conviction for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and being ordered to abstain from the consumption of any alcohol. After several hours of drinking, Jared called his wife, Shanna, and asked her to come to the golf club. When she arrived, Shanna blew into the interlock system installed on Jared’s vehicle, and he drove off while Shanna followed behind. Approximately 16.9 miles from the golf club, while traveling north on Norrisville Road near the intersection of White Hall Road, Jared crossed over the double yellow line, into the southbound lane. The victim was traveling in the southbound lane, and when she saw Jared’s vehicle heading towards her, she swerved into the northbound lane. Jared swerved in the same direction, causing a head on collision. The victim was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, having sustained life-threatening injuries. She later succumbed to those injuries on May 10, 2023.

The victim’s family and friends were present in court for the sentencing hearings and gave emotional and moving victim impact statements both expressing to the court the impact of this tragedy, but also beautifully honoring her life. Ultimately, Judge Allman sentenced Jared Anzelc to the maximum sentence allowable by law for the Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle charge, fifteen years to serve, as well as an additional two years suspended for the DUI Per Se. Following his release, he will be subject to a five-year period of supervised probation. Additionally, Shanna Anzelc was sentenced to ten years, suspending all but three years to serve for Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, acting as an Accessory Before the Fact. She will also be subject to a period of three years of supervised probation upon release.

Following the sentencing State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey, commented: “This loss of life was a completely preventable and a senseless tragedy. Jared and Shanna Anzelc’s blatant disregard for the law and the lives of others on the road were deserving of these serious consequences. It is my hope that the finality of this sentencing can give this victim’s family a sense of closure after a long and tragic chapter of their lives.”

State’s Attorney Healey would like to express her sincere appreciation for Assistant State’s Attorney Megan Lintott for her unwavering commitment to justice in this case. Her fortitude throughout every step of this case ensured that this maximum sentence was achieved and Harford County citizens are safer with these Defendants off our roads. Ms. Healey also commends the Victim Witness Unit of the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, who worked closely with this family throughout the court process and is invaluable in supporting victims in these life altering events. Finally, she thanks Trooper Allen of the Maryland State Police for his investigation and Sgt. Rumaker for his efforts in accident reconstruction that was a vital piece of evidence in the prosecution of these cases.

ABERDEEN MAN CONVICTED OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND CARRYING A CONCEALED DANGEROUS WEAPON

Frank George Hudson, III, 21, of Aberdeen, Maryland was convicted on April 3, 2023 of Voluntary Manslaughter and Carrying a Concealed Dangerous Weapon, following a five-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County. The case originated following an investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Christopher Kerfoot near his home in the 1200 block of Agora Drive in Bel Air, Maryland, on July 8, 2021.

Evidence presented at trial before the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin established that the victim’s brother was awakened shortly before 5:00 a.m. at their residence in the 1200 block of Athens Court. Christopher Kerfoot had suffered stab wounds to his upper torso, and he was able to tell his brother prior to dying that “Frank did it.” The investigation identified Hudson as the suspect, known to both the victim and his brother. Hudson was arrested at his residence in the 1400 block of Pannell Drive that evening, where a knife was located in a nearby dumpster.

Following his arrest, Hudson was interviewed by Harford County Sheriff’s Office investigators and stated that he believed he was meeting a juvenile female with whom he was communicating via SnapChat. Hudson testified in his own defense that the victim approached him, instead of the female, and a physical altercation took place inside and outside of his vehicle. The victim was stabbed three times and bitten on the upper left arm. The victim left the area on foot, arriving at his residence nearby where he succumbed to his injuries.

Forensic evidence determined that the victim’s DNA was found on Hudson’s driver’s side door, and Hudson’s DNA was found on the knife recovered near his residence. A digital forensic analysis of the victim’s phone revealed that it had been recently used to message Hudson using the female’s name to arrange the meeting at that location.

After the verdict, Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy Brooks requested Judge Adkins-Tobin to continue to hold Hudson at the Harford County Detention Center without bail. Hudson faces up to ten years of incarceration for Voluntary Manslaughter and an additional three years for the conviction regarding the weapon. Judge Adkins-Tobin ordered that a Pre-Sentence Investigation and a psychological evaluation be conducted on Hudson for consideration during sentencing and stated that sentencing will be scheduled in approximately six weeks.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said after the jury’s verdict: “Nothing can bring Christopher Kerfoot back, but today’s verdict is justice for Christopher and for his family that was present for the entire trial. This was a difficult case to try without eyewitnesses, but my office will always vigorously pursue truth and justice with the use of the physical evidence. I commend our prosecutors and staff in this case for preparing this case for trial so quickly after having it reassigned to them following the beginning of my term in office in January. It demonstrates their skill, work ethic, and tenacity.”

Ms. Healey thanks Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy B. Brooks and Deputy State’s Attorney David W. Ryden for their advocacy and their care and attention to the victim’s family in this case. In addition, she thanks Deputy First Class Tatum, Detective Smith, and Detective Pilachowski, for their roles in attempting life-saving measures for the victim, swiftly identifying a suspect, and conducting a thorough investigation leading to Hudson’s arrest and conviction.