Prosecution Claimed Suspect Had Every Motive to Kill in Closing Statement

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The prosecution in a homicide closed saying they believe the suspect had every motive to kill the victim, before asking Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer to find him guilty in a homicide bench trial on May 30. Ultimately, the judge agreed.

The defendant, 45-year-old Keith Anderson, is charged with the first-degree murder of 29-year old Markeece Jordan at a BP gas station on the 1900 block of Belair Road. Before the murder, Jordan dated Anderson’s stepdaughter for about a month. Anderson is also charged with firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

According to the prosecution, Anderson wanted to kill Jordan because Anderson thought Jordan had a sexual relationship with Anderson’s partner and also had a romantic relationship with Anderson’s stepdaughter.

The prosecution’s primary evidence was a phone call Anderson made to Jordan during which Anderson allegedly threatened Jordan, telling Jordan that he would end up like his dead father.

Anderson’s defense attorney, Michael Cooper, rebutted the prosecution’s claims, stating the only evidence of Jordan’s murder was grainy and inconclusive surveillance camera footage.

After weighing the arguments, Judge Schiffer found Anderson guilty on all counts, and the disposition of his case is set for Sept. 17.