Kidnapping, Homicide Defendant Still Jailed

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The detention of murder defendant Tyler Liggins was reviewed by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey and extended on Aug. 22. Liggins, 29, has been held since July.

He is accused of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and kidnapping charges in connection with a July 19 incident that occurred on 1100 block of W. Northern Parkway.

Police responded to a single vehicle fatal incident on the I-83 northbound exit near Ruxton Road. A witness stated that the car flipped over several times before a Black male with dreadlocks fled from the vehicle.

Police discovered the body of 43-year-old Travon Booth, the registered owner of the vehicle who was ejected during the accident.

Detectives traced the vehicle’s whereabouts earlier that day to a parking lot of an apartment building on the 1100 block of W. Northern Parkway.

CCTV footage from the date of the incident captured Booth engaging in a verbal altercation with another individual, later said to be Liggins’ brother-in-law.

Following the argument, Booth appears to enter the apartment building while the brother-in-law is seen driving Booth’s vehicle closer to the entrance before entering the building himself.

Thirty minutes later, two men, later identified as the brother-in-law and Liggins, exited the building carrying what police determined to be “an object the size and shape of a human body.” After placing it in Booth’s vehicle through the passenger’s side, the brother-in-law appears to drive the car away alone.

A witness later identified the men as the individuals in the CCTV footage. Liggins was arrested on July 22 and interviewed by police.

When questioned, Liggins stated that two altercations occurred in the apartment building between him, Booth and his brother-in-law. In both, Liggins allegedly admitted that he and his brothe- in-law beat Booth unconscious with their fists.

Liggins denied knowing his brother-in-law allegedly crashed the vehicle with Booth’s body inside. He stated that he had not spoken to his brother-in-law since July 19. According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Liggins’ brother-in-law has not been named as a defendant.

Defense counsel discussed Liggins’ personal life, including his army experience, work as a foster care advocate, and his four children, affirming that he was not a risk to public safety.

Liggins did not resist arrest, admitted to involvement in the assault, and has no prior criminal record, said the defense. The prosector, according to the defense, is overcharging Liggins.

The defense requested that Liggins be held in home detention on an unsecured bond of $100,000.

The prosecution asserted that Liggins should be held without bail. He has been indicted on all charges, admitted to beating the victim unconscious twice, and is a threat to public safety.

Given the seriousness of Liggins’ alleged crimes, Judge Ringgold-Kirksey chose to sustain the current ruling of detention without bail.

Liggins’ trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 19.