A Maryland teenager will spend the rest of his life in prison after he raped and killed a Brunswick woman.
Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Scott Rolle handed 19-year-old Juwuan Terry Stewart a life term in prison for the rape and stabbing death of 61-year-old Tammy Sue Coates. Stewart pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree rape.
“This is an extremely egregious case that would have been death penalty eligible not so long ago. The community needs to understand that some teenagers are capable of extremely brutal and horrific crimes and should be punished according to the crime, not just their age,” said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, according to FOX 45 News.
On Jan. 22, 2024, officers responded to the 300 Block of Ninth Avenue after a 911 distress call from the victim’s relative, who found Coates’ body at her residence. Later, an autopsy report showed the victim had been raped, with the cause of death due to multiple stab wounds and asphyxia after Stewart strangled her.
Witnesses told investigators the defendant had asked Coates if he could shovel snow off her car in exchange for a fee, but she repeatedly declined his offer. Authorities placed Stewart, who was 17 years old at the time and ordered to wear an ankle monitor due to an unrelated event, at the crime scene, in addition to cell phone records and security camera footage. More importantly, the defendant’s DNA was consistent with evidence taken from Coates’ body.
Later, investigators found the defendant’s discarded ankle monitor in his backyard.
“I am unsure how I can ever put into words the impact of losing my mother in such a horrific way has impacted not only my life, but my family’s life as well. . . . This is an experience no one should have to experience in their life. I will never be the same person after this life-altering event,” said the victim’s daughter, reported Frederick’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Rolle sentenced Stewart to an additional 20 years to be served consecutively. The defendant was also ordered to be registered as a lifetime sex offender and supervised by the Sex Offender Management Team.
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