77-YEAR-OLD GAIL D’ANTHONY DIES WHILE AWAITING TRIAL ON CHARGES OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE BRUTAL BEATING DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, 72-YEAR-OLD JOHN “JACK” D’ANTHONY, III.
Gail D’Anthony died while in the custody of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) on May 13, 2024. D’Anthony was being held in custody by MDH because it was determined she was not competent to be tried on charges that she beat her husband, John D’ Anthony to death with a cane. A competency hearing was scheduled for July 9, 2024. The facts of the case are as follows:
On March 1, 2023, at approximately 7:38 pm, Westminster Police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel responded to a residence in the 300 block of Royer Road in Westminster for the report of a cardiac arrest and found John D’ Anthony unresponsive, and shortly thereafter EMS personnel pronounced him dead. An 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 Medical Examiner found these injuries inconsistent with a single fall or otherwise natural death and ruled it a homicide. Evidence collected by detectives at the Royer Road address was analyzed and they found suspected blood splatter which was believed to be consistent with the blunt force trauma injuries found on John D’Anthony’s body.
In June, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office detectives questioned a witness who reported that Gail D’Anthony had confessed to killing her husband John by pushing him to the ground causing him to hit his head on the ground and hitting him with a cane repeatedly to keep him down until he was no longer breathing and then called 911. Gail Joy D’Anthony was arrested on June 21, 2023, and charged with one count each of First- and Second-Degree Murder. On January 10, 2024, she was committed to the MDH because she was found to be incompetent to stand trial and was a danger to herself and to others.
On May 13, 2024, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office was notified by Gail D’Anthony’s daughter, Jessica Annoreno, that early that morning Gail D’Anthony had died. On May 15, 2024, the Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Fred S Hecker entered an Order abating the case by reason of the Defendant’s death.
Ms. Annoreno stated on behalf of her father, the victim in this case, “Anyone that knew Jack D’Anthony knew he was a good person. He was a good father and a good grandfather. I will never forget the day my mother called to admit to me what she did to him. He didn’t deserve to die that way, so it is frustrating that the case ended short of getting the justice that he deserves. My family will continue to celebrate his life.”
Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker commented, “Gail D’Anthony did not escape justice via her death. She will now answer for her crimes to a higher authority. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Jack D’Anthony.”
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Original press release from the Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County: D’Anthony Abatement by Death Press Release Draft
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