On the evening of April 29, 2007, in the Fairmont Heights area of Capitol Heights, Maryland, events unfolded that would tragically end the life of Duane Edward Nichols. He was discovered deceased in the early hours of April 30, 2007, inside a residence located at 1307 Early Oaks Lane, an area known for drug activity. An autopsy would later reveal that Nichols died from a single gunshot wound to his head.
Another man, Michael Lamont Stewart, was also found deceased at the scene, slumped
over in a vehicle. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The ensuing investigation into the double homicide led authorities to Davon Nathan Markham.
In June 2007, a grand jury indicted Markham on charges including the first-degree murders of both Duane Edward Nichols and Michael Lamont Stewart. Following a trial in January 2008, a jury found Davon Nathan Markham guilty of the first-degree murder of Duane Nichols, as well as the murder of Michael Stewart and the attempted murder of another individual present at the scene.
However, the legal proceedings did not end there. In a subsequent appeal, the court found that Markham's trial had been improperly delayed. Consequently, the judgments of the circuit court were reversed, and the case was remanded for a new trial.
