CARROLL COUNTY SHERIFF JAMES DEWEES AND CARROLL COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY HAVEN SHOEMAKER ANNOUNCE ARREST AND CHARGING OF 76-YEAR-OLD WESTMINSTER WOMAN FOR FIRST- AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
Gail D’Anthony, 76-year-old Westminster resident has been arrested and charged with First-and Second-Degree murder in connection with the death of her husband, 72-year-old John D’Anthony, III.
On March 1, 2023, at approximately 7:38pm, Westminster Police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel responded to a residence in the 300 block of Royer Road for the report of a cardiac arrest. EMS arrived and attempted lifesaving measures on 72-year-old John D’Anthony, III, but they were unsuccessful, and Mr. D’Anthony was pronounced dead. Thereafter, his body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office for further investigation. The results of the ME’s autopsy confirmed that Mr. D’Anthony suffered extensive injuries, including blunt force injuries throughout his body, including, but not limited to, lacerations to his mouth, a broken neck, a broken right rib, two black eyes, and large contusions to his hands and forearms. Ultimately, the ME found these injuries inconsistent with a single fall or otherwise natural death and ruled it a homicide.
On May 24, 2023, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was asked to continue the investigation. Evidence collected at the Royer Road address was analyzed and found to have suspected blood splatter which is believed to be consistent with the blunt force trauma injuries found on John D’Anthony. In June, MCU Detectives became aware of a witness with additional information, namely, that Gail D’Anthony had told the witness that she killed her husband John by pushing him to the ground where he hit his head on the floor. She then left the room and returned with a cane, which she used to bludgeon John on the head, and then used the cane to prevent him from getting up. Gail D’Anthony entered and exited the room several times, eventually finding her husband unresponsive. She then called 911 for assistance.
The witness’s information is consistent with the evidence found at the scene. After consulting with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, Detectives applied for and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Gail Joy D’Anthony, and she arrested on June 21, 2023, in Cumberland. The charges against her are one count each of First- and Second-Degree Murder. D’Anthony waived a bail review today in Allegany County and is being held without bail pending transportation to the Carroll County Detention Center.
“This arrest and prosecution were the result of much sweat and shoe leather on the part of folks at both the Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney’s Offices, especially Detective Ashley Owens and Assistant State’s Attorneys Amy Ocampo and Connie Yarborough,” remarked Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker, “all of us in law enforcement in Carroll are committed to protecting vulnerable victims of domestic violence, no matter how young or old.”
Individuals who are charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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View the PDF version of the press release above: D’Anthony Press Release
