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Charles County Sheriff’s Officers Arrest Man in Connection With Homicide

           WALDORF (Nov. 13, 2000) --- Its getting a little tough to be in Waldorf these days with two stabbing deaths outside commercial establishments on a 5 mile stretch of Rt. 301 in Waldorf.  First, a naked man with a dozen stab wounds was found outside the Lowes store on Rt. 301 on Monday night and on Wednesday the cops say that another man was stabbed to death outside of the Hooters, also located on Rt. 301.
 The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit report  that they arrested Joseph John Plass, 57, of Waldorf in connection with the homicide of Shelton D. Stephens, 52, of Dunnellon, Florida, who was stabbed last night in a parking lot on Crain Highway.  
On Nov. 12 at 7:38 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the Super 8 Motel located at 3550 Crain Highway in Waldorf for the report of an unconscious male lying in the lobby. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with stab wounds to his upper body; he was pronounced dead on the scene.Preliminary investigation revealed the victim left the Hooters restaurant at 3600 Crain Highway and was walking in the parking lot between the restaurant and motel when the suspect approached and stabbed him in the upper body.
After the assault, the victim ran to the motel and collapsed in the lobby. Witnesses provided officers a description of the suspect and indicated he walked back to Hooters. Detectives located the suspect inside the restaurant and recovered a knife from his clothing; he was arrested without incident. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and remanded to the Charles County Detention Center with no bond.
Investigators determined that the suspect and the victim were inside the restaurant prior to the incident but there were no obvious indications of an argument between the men nor does it appear they knew each other. It is not clear what led to the assault and investigators are asking anyone with additional information to call Detective Higgs at (301) 609-6498. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.  



Body of Nude Man with Multiple Stab Wounds Found at Lowes

 man involved in gun incident in October; murder typical of gay slaying

WALDORF ---  Make no mistake about it, Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey wants you to know that a man found naked and murdered behind Lowes on Rt. 301 in Waldorf wasn't an employee of Lowes, wasn't shopping at Lowes, he was simply murdered at Lowes, which is obviously worse than working there or shopping there.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating the homicide of Daniel Cordova, 28, of Waldorf, who was found deceased last night in the parking lot of Lowe’s located at 2525 Crain Highway in Waldorf. 

Police report that their investigation revealed that on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 8:24 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the Lowe’s home improvement store after receiving a call from an employee who reported observing a nude male lying motionless in the parking lot directly behind the garden center. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with multiple stab wounds and pronounced him dead on the scene. Detectives are working several leads in the case and say the death does not appear to be a random act of violence nor does it appear the victim was affiliated with Lowe’s.  

Just last month, Cordova was involved in gun play on the railroad tracks as this news item appeared in ST. MARY'S TODAY:

Waiting for a train with a gun

WALDORF Charles County Sheriff’s officers report that on Oct. 13 at 1:30 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the 12000 block of Trade Zone Court in Waldorf for the report of gun shots. Upon arrival, officers observed two men sitting on the railroad tracks directly behind a business. As officers approached, one of the subjects, Daniel Argueta Cordova, 28, of Waldorf, threw a handgun into a wooded area. Another subject, Jose Santana Ortiz-Cubias, 23, of Waldorf, was sitting beside Cordova and wearing a shoulder bag containing a holster and a box of ammunition. Officers recovered a loaded .380 semi-automatic handgun and arrested the men. Both suspects were charged with possession of a handgun and reckless endangerment. Officer J. Kelly made the arrest

Stabbing deaths, where multiple stabbings take place are typical in crimes of passion between homosexuals.  With the condition of the body being nude and the murder being inflicted in the way it was, a violent end could have been accomplished by a angered lover or simply was a gang inflicted murder.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Buchanan at 301-609-6477. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for the tip that leads to the arrest or indictment of the suspect.