Baltimore Man Charged with Baby Girl’s Death Denied Bail

By Andrew Michaels - August 3, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore man was denied bail on Aug. 3 in connection to the death of a 2-month-old girl nearly three months ago.

Darius Williams and his attorney, Linda Zeit, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson on Tuesday to present his case. Zeit said her client has been held without bail since being arrested on May 17, two days after the baby’s death. The bail hearing was originally scheduled for Monday but postponed to Tuesday because the prosecutor was unavailable.

Williams’ trial is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7.

The Baltimore Police Department reported that officers were called to the unit block of S. Monastery Avenue around 8:50 a.m. on May 15 and found 2-month-old Zorii Pitts unresponsive in a bassinet. Following an autopsy, medical examiners ruled Pitts that died from blunt force trauma to the head, specifically, a crushed skull.

Williams, 34, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree child abuse that resulted in death, and first-degree child abuse causing severe physical injury.

On Tuesday, Zeit said Williams acknowledged that he was the last person to see Pitts before her death but that he told police he “did not do anything to the young baby.” The defense attorney said Williams called the police out of concern and voluntarily went to the homicide unit for questioning.

Williams and the victim were not related.

Pitts’ mother as well as two of her other children, aged 8 and 12, were also in the house at the time of Pitts’ death, according to Zeit. Williams’ children were not present at the time.

Zeit also noted that Williams was pre-approved for home detention at his grandmother’s house, which included no contact with children.

The prosecution followed Zeit by saying that Williams has seven prior guilty findings between 2006 and 2019, which were all drug-related, as well as two probation violations.

“He’s a threat to the most vulnerable in the community,” the prosecutor said.

Given the information presented Tuesday, Judge Jackson denied Williams’ bail.

An attempted murder defendant was also denied bail on Tuesday after allegedly shooting someone in the back about a year ago.

Jai-Shawn Harding, 21, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, firing a gun within the city, illegal possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm as a minor.

According to defense attorney Robert Cohen, Harding is a lifelong Baltimore resident and has a stable home life. Cohen requested home detention, given the pandemic.

The prosecutor said Harding is facing two cases: one case for robbery and the other case for the attempted murder.

“Both happened within two days of each other,” the prosecutor said, noting that the robbery occurred on Aug. 10, 2020, and the attempted murder occurred two days later.

On Aug. 12, 2020, the prosecutor said, Harding and the victim were having a conversation when the defendant said he wanted to talk to the victim in an alley. The victim declined, and Harding shot the victim in the back.

The victim was able to get into a vehicle and drive home, the prosecutor added, and later identified Harding in a photo array.

Judge Jackson denied bail for Harding. The case is scheduled to return to reception court on Aug. 12.