Families Express Grief, Anger Before Sentencing of Double Murder Defendant

By Hannah Rainer [former] - December 11, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Dec. 8, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr. presided over a tightly packed courtroom for the sentencing of a defendant found guilty of murdering two people in July, 2019.    

Charles Anderson, 21, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in a felony-violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony-violent crime, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and carrying a handgun on his person in connection with the deaths of Julien Rosaly and Brittany Foster in July, 2019. 

Anderson was found guilty of all charges, save for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and robbery, for which the jury did not render a verdict. On Sept. 19, 21-year-old Donyell Morris was sentenced to life, suspending all but 40 years as a co-defendant in the case.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police officers responded to the 1200 block of Bloomingdale Street on July 2, 2019 after reports of a shooting. Officers found Rosaly and Foster suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Both were transported to local hospitals, where they later passed as a result of their injuries.

Officers used video surveillance footage from the Winchester Health Center to identify two black males who appeared to be following the victims as they walked up the street. Police observed the pair shoot the victims in an apparent robbery. After developing stills of the two men, they were positively identified as Charles “CJ” Anderson and Donnell Morris and charged with Rosaly and Foster’s deaths. 

The prosecution described the random nature and senselessness of the crime and its impact on the community.

Both sets of the victim’s parents spoke to Judge Taylor, expressing the devastation and destruction they had experienced the past four years. 

Brittany Foster’s mother expressed the accepting nature of her daughter, stating that, “She would have even found some good in Charles Anderson.”

Foster’s father, as well as the parents of Julien Rosaly followed, expressing similar feelings.

“This destroyed my family; this destroyed me,” stated Rosaly’s father.

“My heart is not only broken, but shattered,” stated the prosecution on behalf of Rosaly’s mother, who was too emotional to speak to Judge Taylor. 

At the conclusion of victim impact statements, Foster’s mother added, “Judge, show him the same mercy that he showed my daughter.” The prosecution then asked Judge Taylor to impose a sentence that would keep Anderson off the streets forever, as he has consistently demonstrated he is a threat to public safety.  

Defense attorney Steven L. Trostle emphasized Anderson’s past trauma, disabilities, and injuries do not excuse his crime, but help explain his actions. 

“He knows he needs help,” Trostle stated. He then asked Judge Taylor to impose a sentence fit for the crime, allowing Anderson to retain the possibility of parole and receive treatment at the Patuxent Institute while incarcerated. 

Anderson said he was sorry for his actions.

“I am not the man these people say I am,” he stated. 

Anderson was sentenced by Judge Taylor to life without the possibility of parole for both first-degree murder charges, 10 years to run concurrently for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, 20 years to run consecutively for firearm use in a felony-violent crime, and 20 years to run concurrently for conspiracy to commit armed robbery.