PAUL HURST AND CAREY LEE EDWARDS SENTENCED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

On April 30, 2015, Paul Hurst, age 33, of Hebron, Maryland, was sentenced to Life- suspend all but forty (40) years--for Attempted First Degree Murder. On April 24, 2015, the Wicomico County Circuit Court sentenced Hurst’s co-defendant, Carey Lee Edwards, to Life -suspend all but thirty (30) years-for his role in this crime.

On August 4, 2014, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to Peninsula Regional Medical Center (P.R.M.C.) in reference to a reported assault. Upon further investigation, detectives from the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation (WBI) found that Paul Hurst and Carey Lee Edwards had assaulted Hurst’s housemate from dusk on August 3, 2014 through dawn on August 4. The victim in this case sustained several cracked ribs, a lacerated liver and spleen, and circumferential burns on his right arm. Because of the severity of the victim’s injuries, he was transported from P.R.M.C. to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center for treatment. There the victim ultimately had to have his right arm amputated.

The investigation revealed that Edwards and the victim both had “Hatchet Man” tattoos that symbolized their affinity for the band “The Insane Clown Posse. (ICP).” The investigation revealed that Hurst’s and Edward’s motive for burning the victim’s arm was to remove the victim’s “Hatchet Man” tattoo because the victim disrespected their “Juggalo” “family.”

Hurst and Edwards entered guilty pleas to Attempted First Degree Murder on February 27, 2015 and March 20, 2015, respectively. The Court sentenced each man to prison terms recommended by the State and in accordance with the State’s plea agreements. After serving their active periods of incarceration (Hurst was sentenced to serve 40 years, Edwards was sentenced to serve 30 years), each man will serve a five (5) year period of probation upon release wherein the balance of a life sentence could be imposed for any further violation of the law or condition of probation.

Matt Maciarello, State’s Attorney for Wicomico County commended the agencies involved in this investigation, especially the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation (WBI) and lead investigator, Thomas Funk. Maciarello also commended the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police for their assistance in processing evidence in this case. The State also expresses its gratitude for all of the doctors, nurses and hospital personnel at P.R.M.C. and the Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center who cared for the victim and who participated in the preparation of this case.

These cases were prosecuted by Matthew A. Maciarello, State’s Attorney for Wicomico County, and Ella M. Disharoon, Deputy State’s Attorney. For more information or for an interview please call the Office of the State’s Attorney at (410) 548-4880 or go to www.wicomicosao.com.