SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN SALISBURY HOMICIDE

(Salisbury, MD) – Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wicomico County State’s Attorney have arrested two Wicomico County men and charged them in connection with the murder of a 63 year old woman found shot to death in her home on December 18, 2010.

The accused are identified as Shawn Franklin, 21, of the 400 block of Hastings Street, and Demarics Banks, 21, of the 1000 block of John Street, both in Salisbury, Maryland. Franklin is charged with first and second degree murder. Banks is charged with first and second degree murder, first and second degree assault, armed robbery and other pending charges. Both are being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on no bond.

The murder victim is identified as Barbara Greene, 63, of the 1700 block of Dale Lane in Salisbury. Greene was pronounced dead at her home where she lived with her brother, Reginald Greene. She was home alone at the time of the incident.

Shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2010, state police from the Salisbury Barrack received a 9-1-1 call from Reginald Greene. Greene informed police that upon returning from work shortly after midnight, he found the back door open and bloodstains in the hallway. Fearing that perpetrators were still inside, Greene exited the residence and went to a neighbor’s house to make the 9-1-1 call.

The investigation has shown the men barged into Greene’s home on Friday, December 17 at approximately 6:30 p.m. in an attempt to burglarize the residence. They were met by the victim who had come out of her bedroom. An autopsy of the victim’s body revealed her cause of death was a single gunshot wound and the manner of death was homicide.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation have been assisted throughout this investigation by allied law enforcement agencies. They include the: Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, and State Police from the Salisbury Barracks.

The investigation into the murder of Barbara Greene is continuing. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact the Wicomico County Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Callers may remain anonymous.