Homicide Defendant Rejected a Plea

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A 58-year-old Baltimore man accused of homicide rejected a plea of 60 years with five years probation on Feb. 22 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Roderick Griffin is charged with first-degree murder, false imprisonment, and theft between $1,500 and $25,000 in connection to an incident on April 10, 2020.

During reception court on Tuesday, Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea of life suspending all but 60 years, with five years for first-degree murder.

Griffin’s defense attorney, Todd Oppenheim, stated this was a reindicted case and that trial was set before Hick’s date.

Oppenheim requested for Judge Phinn to dismiss the case but she denied the request.

According to the Baltimore Sun, on April 10, 2020, at approximately 5 p.m., officers were called to the 5500 block of Alameda after a woman was reported missing. The victim, Lillian Herndon, was found dead “with obvious signs of foul play” at her residence, police said.

Griffin’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26.