In the early morning hours of March 4, 2015, the body of 24-year-old Marius TreVaughn Chatman, a Black / African American male, was discovered in an alley adjacent to the Seventh Ward Playground in Washington, Pennsylvania. Responding to a 911 call around 4 a.m., police found Chatman deceased, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds in what was described as an execution-style killing. The coroner officially ruled his death a homicide. At the time of his death, Chatman was an aspiring local rap artist, known as 'Pryce,' and was anticipating the birth of his daughter.
The investigation into Chatman's murder has been a long and frustrating journey for his family. Authorities learned that Chatman had been on his phone with individuals who they suspect may have been involved in his death shortly before the killing. Two people were reportedly seen fleeing the area after the gunshots. Investigators looked into his music lyrics for potential clues, as it was suggested he may have called out people by name. Despite these leads and video surveillance from the playground, the darkness of the night hampered the visual evidence. The case grew cold, leaving his loved ones without answers.
Over the years, at least one person of interest was identified by investigators. Keith Anthony “Sin” Rosario came under suspicion due to a belief that the homicide was retaliatory. Court records indicated that Rosario allegedly believed Chatman had set him up to be shot two weeks prior to the murder. However, a lack of sufficient evidence prevented an arrest from being made in connection with Chatman's death. Another man, Patrick Speer, also drew suspicion when ballistics from a gun he used in a separate crime reportedly matched slugs recovered from Chatman's body. Speer later died in jail of unrelated causes while awaiting trial for the other charges.
As years turned into a decade, the case remained unsolved. Marius Chatman's mother, Tamarra Ratley, tirelessly sought justice for her son until her own death in 2023. Her daughters have continued the fight, publicly appealing for anyone with information to come forward. The Washington Police Department has also periodically renewed its push for clues, stating that they believe people in the community hold critical information that could finally bring closure to the family and hold those responsible accountable. To date, no arrests have been made, and the murder of Marius Chatman officially remains an open investigation.
