Princess Anne man charged after three-month search, extradition
By Sharahn D. Boykin
Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- After a three-month search, a man charged in the assault, and later death, of his former girlfriend has been taken into custody by police.
Jason Joerell Phillips, 30, of Princess Anne has been indicted on murder charges after a woman he had been dating died in August.
"It was very good investigative work by the Maryland State Police," said Somerset County State's Attorney Kristy Hickman. "We have a strong case against him and we're going to pursue the case because he left six children motherless."
Police had been searching for Phillips, also known as Joerell Glover, since May 15 when a neighbor allegedly witnessed him beating Melissa Morris inside her home at Sommers Place Apartments.
Before the assault, family members were concerned for Morris' safety because she reported Phillips had left her threatening messages on her voicemail and MySpace page, according to previous interviews with family members.
Morris was still alive after the assault and was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, but was later moved to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, where she died in August.
Phillips was not inside Morris' apartment when police arrived. Authorities later located him in Florida and extradited him back to Maryland in August.
A Somerset County grand jury indicted Phillips on murder, manslaughter, burglary, assault and reckless endangerment charges on Aug. 13.
He is being held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center, according to prosecutors.
A Circuit Court trial has been scheduled for late January.
sboykin@dmg.gannett.com
410-845-4656
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