(RIDGELY, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested and charged the daughter of an elderly Caroline County man found dead in his home yesterday evening with his murder.
The victim is identified as Arthur Cohee, who turned 90 yesterday, of the 12000-block Ridgely Road, Ridgely, Md. Cohee was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accused is identified as Janice C. Cohee, 58, who lived with her father at the same address. After consultation with the Caroline County State’s Attorney, Janice Cohee was charged early this morning by State Police homicide investigators with first and second degree murder, first and second degree assault, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment. She was taken before a court commissioner for an initial appearance and ordered held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center.
Shortly before 6:00 p.m. yesterday, the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a woman, later identified as the accused, who said her father was dead. Deputies responded to the residence and found Janice Cohee sitting outside. They found her father in a chair in the kitchen, with obvious trauma to his head and neck.
Sheriff Randy Bounds requested the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit conduct the investigation. Homicide Unit investigators responded and were assisted throughout the night by investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, the State Police Easton Barrack, and State Police crime scene technicians.
After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, investigators and crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence. Interviews were conducted with Janice Cohee, as well as neighbors, relatives, and others.
The preliminary investigation indicates Janice Cohee told police that two men had broken into the home seeking money and had assaulted her father, while she hid in another room. Investigators determined that account not to be true based on evidence found at the scene and on Janice Cohee, as well as conflicting information provided to police.
Items were found during the search that have been forwarded to the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division laboratory to determine if they may have been used in the assault on the victim. The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
A motive remains unclear at this time. The investigation is continuing.
MD. State Police Press Release
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