Rolando Andrade

In the spring of 2003, Rolando Andrade, a 29-year-old man, was living in a residential neighborhood in Takoma Park, Maryland, on the 6800 block of 10th Street. Little is publicly known about Rolando’s life—his work, his family, his passions, or the relationships that defined his 29 years. His story is remembered not for the life he lived, but for the brutal and mysterious way in which it was ended, leaving behind a case that has puzzled investigators for more than two decades. His loved ones were left with unanswered questions that still linger in the quiet suburbs of the Washington, D.C. metro area.

The last time anyone is known to have seen Rolando Andrade alive was on Saturday, April 26, 2003, in Prince George's County. What he was doing there and who he was with remains part of the mystery. Five days passed. On Thursday, May 1, a missing person report was filed for Rolando. The same day, the search for him came to a grim and sudden end miles away in a different county. Two people walking along the 7300 block of Guilford Road in Clarksville, a semi-rural community in Howard County, made a horrifying discovery. They found a human body concealed inside a trash container that had been dumped off the side of the road near a wooded area.

Howard County Police were called to the scene. The victim was soon identified as Rolando Andrade. An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner would later determine that he had died from a head injury, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. Investigators believe he was killed elsewhere and his body was transported to the quiet roadside in Clarksville. The discovery marked the beginning of a long and frustrating investigation for detectives.

The case fell under the jurisdiction of the Howard County Police Department. From the outset, investigators were faced with a crime that crossed county lines, beginning with Rolando’s last known whereabouts in Prince George’s County and ending with the discovery of his body in Howard County. This often complicates homicide investigations, widening the geographic scope for witness interviews and evidence collection. Detectives worked to piece together a timeline of Rolando's final days, trying to identify anyone who had contact with him after April 26.

Despite their efforts, the investigation yielded few public leads. No suspects or persons of interest were ever publicly named, and a motive for the murder has never been released. Over the years, the case grew cold, joining a list of other unsolved homicides in Howard County. Yet, detectives have not given up on finding justice for Rolando. His case remains open and is periodically reviewed for new leads or opportunities to apply modern forensic techniques to any evidence that may have been collected.

As of January 2024, the Howard County Police Department continues to highlight Rolando Andrade’s case, hoping that the passage of time may encourage someone with information to finally come forward. Relationships change, and allegiances fade, and investigators believe it is possible that someone knows what happened to Rolando. A reward of up to $30,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. Police urge anyone who may have seen something suspicious or has any knowledge, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them. Tips can be submitted to the Howard County Police at 410-313-STOP or via email at [email protected].