On the morning of March 12, 2014, a chilling discovery was made in Crownsville, Maryland. The body of Benjamin Delano Kirby Jr., a 41-year-old Black / African American male from Annapolis, was found in the driveway of a daycare center. The investigation into his death began after police received a call about a suspicious, unoccupied taxi minivan with its meter still running. Inside the vehicle, officers found signs of a violent struggle, including the presence of blood.
A wider search of the area led them to Kirby's body, which had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the upper body.
The breakthrough in the case came not long after the grim discovery. While executing a search warrant for a burglary suspect, investigators uncovered evidence that directly linked a 17-year-old, Trevor Allen Snead, to Kirby's murder. This crucial evidence included a pair of pants stained with Kirby's blood and. 45 caliber ammunition that was consistent with the type used in the crime. Furthermore, Snead's fingerprints were found inside Kirby's taxi.
Already in custody for the burglary, Snead confessed to his involvement in the murder and implicated a second individual, 23-year-old Michael Juvan Wallace. Both Snead and Wallace were subsequently arrested and faced a string of serious charges, including first and second-degree murder, armed robbery, and firearm violations. In the ensuing legal process, Trevor Allen Snead pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and the use of a handgun in a crime of violence. He faced a lengthy potential sentence for his role in the tragic death of Benjamin Kirby Jr.
