Sarah Shannon, an 88-year-old Black woman, was found murdered in her Baltimore, Maryland apartment on November 30, 2002. A relative discovered her body after she did not answer phone calls. An investigation revealed that she had been raped and strangled to death. Valuables were also stolen from her apartment, which was located in the Greenwell Apartments, a facility for elderly and disabled residents.
For a time, the case remained unsolved as there was no immediate DNA match for the
perpetrator. The investigation eventually led to Raymont Hopewell, a man who had a history of drug addiction and criminal activity. Hopewell's mother lived in the same apartment complex as Shannon, which may have given him familiarity with the building and its residents.
Hopewell was identified as a suspect in a series of violent crimes targeting elderly individuals in Baltimore. His crime spree included other murders, sexual assaults, and home invasions. He was ultimately arrested on September 20, 2005, in connection with the murder of another elderly victim, 82-year-old Carlton Crawford. After his arrest, his DNA was matched to several unsolved murders, including that of Sarah Shannon.
In 2006, Raymont Hopewell pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, which included the murder of Sarah Shannon, and four counts of first-degree rape. He entered into a plea deal that spared him the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During his trial, the families of his victims expressed that they did not feel his apology was sincere. The case brought attention to the fact that Hopewell had been previously incarcerated but was never required to submit a DNA sample, which could have potentially led to his earlier capture and prevented subsequent crimes.
