Son of Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Convicted in Fatal Stabbing Graduates From Mental Health Court

By Sophie Gad [former] - February 9, 2022
Daily Stories | Homicides | Victims |

Actor and son of a former Baltimore Police Commissioner Melvin Russell who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of 49-year-old Theophilus Ruffin about five years ago graduated from mental health court on Feb. 9. 

In 2017, Russell, 35, was convicted of manslaughter and accepted a plea for roughly a year and a half of jail time and five years probation for the 2015 fatal stabbing of Ruffin, who was his roommate. The victim’s death was later ruled a homicide due to multiple stab wounds.

The defendant, who has a documented history of schizophrenia, was required to attend mental health court as part of the plea agreement.

On Wednesday, Russell reported to mental health court for the last time before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin, Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer, defense attorney Sharon Bogins Eberhart, and several family members, all of whom wished him well.

Judge Rasin said Russell’s case was closed and terminated in satisfactory status and also agreed to dismiss a pending violation of probation that occurred in 2020.

“I am so unbelievably happy and proud of you,” said Judge Schiffer, who presided over Russell’s probation from February 2020 thru April 2021.

“I was so excited when I got the email that today was going to happen,” Eberhart added. “I am pleased to be a part of your past and future as you go forward. Thank you for inviting me and we wish you the best moving forward.”

Russell informed the court that he intends to focus on his acting career, including the upcoming HBO series, “We Own This City.”