Deadly Woodlawn fire ruled homicide
Aug 21st, 2010 by Bilal Ali
Flowers outside of a boarded up home honor Minnie Robinson who lived on Gartside Ave. in Woodlawn for several years. During that time, she made friends with her neighbors including the youngest next door, 19-year-old Jeremy Richards, who police say is now responsible for her death.
“I was in a state of denial. I just would not accept it,” said Jane Nance, a neighbor.
Nance says Richards comes from a family of six. He is the youngest of four children. She says Richards did not have a job, but he graduated from high school, and he was generally known to be polite and courteous.
But Baltimore County police say he had other intentions on August 12th.
“We know at this point that they seem to have a good relationship. He’s grown up next to her, went over there often to talk with her or do some other things and we just don’t understand and can comprehend at this point. It appears that it’s an attempted robbery,” said Cpl. Mike Hill, Baltimore Co. police spokesman.
Nance trusted Richards enough to come into her home and take care of her elderly mother. She can’t imagine why he needed to rob Minnie Robinson.
“His parents gave him everything that he needed. You know, he lived there with his parents. I don’t know why. We’re trying to make sense of that,” said Nance.
Cars are in the driveway, but no one came to the front door of the Richards’ home. The basketball court across the street is empty now. Nance says Richards and his friends typically played there at night.
The fatal fire, turned murder, has stunned the community.
“I was getting close to the fact that she was gone and then yesterday kind of worked things up again when we found out who it was,” said Nance.
Minnie Robinson had fractures to her face, but the medical examiner has not ruled on the exact cause of death.
Jeremy Richards is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail.