The retrial of Jermaine Sanders, 34, continued before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey on Oct. 23, with counsel debating a combination of forensic evidence, eyewitness uncertainty and digital trails.
Sanders was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and related conspiracy and firearm violations in connection to the 2020 shooting death of 30-year-old Kimberly McCubbin, 30, on the 500 block of N. Curley Street.
The prosecution presented a fingerprint, a hat containing Sanders’ DNA, and hair found in the interior of the victim’s vehicle. They pointed to text threads linking Sanders to individuals that were identified as acquaintances of Sanders, and subscription details that matched Sanders’ phone number. According to detectives, Sanders also searched for how to delete his Instagram account, as well as for news coverage surrounding the case.
Defense attorney Martin Cohen countered that no DNA belonging to Sanders was found on the victim, her car’s door handle, or other critical surfaces that were examined throughout the investigation. Four eyewitnesses failed to positively identify Sanders at trial.
One witness described the perpetrator as having a hi-top fade hairstyle, but Cohen noted Sanders had long hair. Questions were raised about omissions in the investigation, including detectives’ failure to interview a potentially relevant witness and the fact that surveillance footage presented at trial did not directly capture the crime scene.
Despite the forensic and digital links prosecutors emphasized, the jury ultimately concluded the evidence fell short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and Sanders was acquitted on all counts on Oct. 27.
