PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 24, 2025

 

WASHINGTON D.C. MAN TO SERVE LIFE SENTENCE FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER

 

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced 40-year-old Ruben Terod Williams to a life sentence for First Degree Murder.  A jury found the Defendant guilty on November 22, 2024, in the Frederick County Circuit Court.

On December 31, 2022, detectives with the Frederick Police Department responded in the early-morning hours to Frederick Health Hospital (FHH) for a report of a female victim with a stab wound. The victim was later identified as Mary Alice Seward, then 41 years old. Medical staff, after performing life-saving efforts, pronounced Seward deceased at FHH.

Detectives through their investigation determined that the stabbing occurred on Linden Avenue in Frederick, Maryland, which is near the GetGo gas station on Route 40. Evidence presented at trial showed that a group of people in a Honda Civic met with Seward on Linden Avenue to purchase cocaine. The Defendant was with that group, as well his girlfriend Erin Davis.

After a dispute about the cocaine received in the transaction, the Defendant exited the Honda and approached Seward, who was still seated in the driver seat of a Ford Escape. The Defendant demanded that Seward give the money back. The Defendant pulled out a knife and told Seward that she had until the count of three to give the money back. When Seward refused, the Defendant stabbed Seward once in the chest. The knife pierced into Seward’s heart. Seward was then driven to FHH by her boyfriend, who had witnessed the murder while seated in the front passenger seat of the Ford.

“This was a horrible stabbing committed by a horrible person with a horrible record,” stated State’s Attorney, Charlie Smith. “We wanted Life Without Parole, but certainly respect the Judge’s decision to give a straight Life Sentence.”

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Swanson and Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty represented the State of Maryland.

The investigation was led by Frederick Police Department Detective Stephen Radtke, assisted by Detective Kyrie Yackovich, Sergeant Jonathan Shatlock, Detective Kyle Jones, and Corporal Jonathan Schultz.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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