In November of 2022, a devastating discovery was made in a Hagerstown, Maryland, hotel room that sent shockwaves through the community. Four-year-old Khori Ashton and her 40-year-old mother, Elise Wars, were found deceased in their room at the APM Inn and Suites on Dual Highway. The two had been living at the hotel for several months. An employee of the hotel made the grim discovery and immediately contacted the authorities.
Upon arrival, officers found both Khori and her mother suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and they were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into the deaths of Khori and her mother quickly pointed to a suspect. Javon Hines, a 22-year-old man described as an acquaintance of Elise Wars, was identified as the person of interest. With the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, Hines was located and taken into custody in Elkridge, Maryland, the day after the discovery of the victims. Authorities stated that they believed the crime was a 'targeted and deliberate' act.
Following his arrest, Javon Hines was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, as well as first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. As the case moved through the legal system, Hines' mental health became a central issue. After evaluations, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. In May 2024, it was reported that Hines was expected to plead guilty but be found not criminally responsible for the murders due to his mental state at the time of the offense. It was later reported that he did plead guilty to the double homicide and was found not criminally responsible by the Washington County Circuit Court.
