Judge Sentences Murder Defendant With Her Daughter in Mind

By Racquel Bazos [former] - January 23, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

On Jan. 11, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton sentenced a woman who killed her husband while drunk behind the wheel to 12 years of incarceration. 

Shakurah Eason was found guilty of the second-degree murder of her husband Donald Eason on Aug. 24, 2023. Previous Baltimore Witness reporting states that she ran over her husband twice in the valet area of the Residence Inn by Marriott on the 800 block of North Wolfe Street after an argument. Shakurah had double the legal blood alcohol content at the time of the incident. Donald died from his injuries six days after the incident on Nov. 20, 2021.

The prosecutor asked Judge Middleton for the maximum legal penalty of 40 years, double the sentencing guidelines’ range of 12 to 20 years for Shakurah. 

In a victim impact statement, Donald’s sister told the court that he had been in jail for over a decade and hoped to become a personal trainer. “He didn’t deserve to be murdered by his brand-new wife,” she said tearfully. 

Donald’s mother said Donald missed his daughter’s high school graduation and seeing his and Shakurah’s baby learn to walk. 

Shakurah’s family members were also present. Shakurah’s grandmother asked Judge Middleton to “show some mercy” and said keeping Shakurah incarcerated was “not the answer.”

Defense attorney Tony Garcia explained that Shakurah and Donald fell in love while Donald was in jail. He said that his client had consistently expressed remorse for Donald’s death, both to officers on the scene and on the stand during her trial. 

Shakurah learned she was pregnant with Donald’s child after the jail intake process. Garcia asked Judge Middleton to stay within the sentencing guidelines and to consider a period of home detention after Shakurah had served several years so she could raise her daughter. 

A psychological evaluation prepared for the hearing diagnosed Shakurah with alcohol and cannabis use disorders and recommended addiction treatment. Before that, Garcia noted that his client had independently gotten therapy for her substance abuse while on pretrial house arrest.

When Shakurah herself addressed the court, she apologized to both her and Donald’s families and said she missed Donald. 

Judge Middleton said this disposition hearing was different because of the individuals involved. “You are all family,” she said to a mixed reception in the gallery. 

Judge Middleton declined to sentence Shakurah to double the sentencing guidelines as requested by the prosecution, instead focusing on the practical impact her sentence would have, saying it was “designed with [Shakurah’s] and Mister Eason’s daughter in mind.”

“It’s difficult to raise a daughter behind bars,” she continued. “For years, she’ll be struggling with what road to take.” 

Judge Middleton sentenced Shakurah Eason to 20 years, suspending all but 12 years, with five years of probation upon release. Shakurah will also be required to pursue drug and alcohol addiction treatment, domestic violence and anger management courses. Shakurah also will receive credit for time served since Jan. 14, 2021.