(MARDELA, MD) – The nephew of a Wicomico County man is under arrest and has been charged with his murder that occurred in a rural farm field in the same county late this morning.
The accused is identified as William B. Harcum, III, 31, of the 10000-block of Snethen Church Road, Mardela, Md. After consultation with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police homicide investigators charged him with first degree murder, second degree murder, first degree assault, and second degree assault. Harcum was been taken for his initial appearance before a court commissioner and is being held without bond in the Wicomico County Detention Center.
The victim is identified as Lee P. Harcum, 62, of the 6200-block of Westbrooke Drive, Salisbury, Md. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m. today, troopers from the Salisbury Barrack responded to a produce farm field in the 10000-block of Snethen Church Road, Mardela, Md. after receiving a 911 call from the scene. Upon arrival, troopers encountered a man being treated by paramedics near the entrance to a lane that led back to a farm field. The man, later identified as William Harcum III, was taken into custody near the scene.
About one-quarter of a mile back the lane, troopers found the body of Lee Harcum lying in a watermelon field, with obvious trauma to his head. EMS personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Troopers called for the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and Wicomico Bureau of Investigation to respond. State Police crime scene technicians were also dispatched to process the scene.
Investigators have interviewed multiple individuals and evidence has been collected from the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates William Harcum III and his uncle, Lee Harcum, were picking watermelons in the field when an argument ensued between the two. Investigators believe William Harcum III used a blunt object to strike Lee Harcum in the head.
Investigators have recovered a piece of farm equipment that will be forwarded to the State Police Forensic Sciences Division Laboratory for analysis to determine if it was used in the assault. Due to the ongoing investigation, the object is not being identified at this time.
The investigation is continuing.
75 comments:
You will be missed my friend,killed by a COWARD is not the way to go.
Coward? He stood up to that bully uncle of his. Your friend almost killed him in cowardly fashion by hitting him and knocking out with a huge melon while he wasnt looking. Whos the coward? 8:06 I'm glad your " friend " is dead. He starts shit everywhere! Then as your friend went to fetch a gun to kill this innocent man...... He was dealt with like the rabbid animal he is. Trey is 100% justified.
this is very sad. prayers for the Harcum family.
I second your opinion 11:09...and so does just about everyone else that knows them or have worked for ignorant ass lee.
Judging by the comments on social media the pulse of the community is with Trey. It's telling how few if any (because I haven't seen any) show sympathy toward the victim.
This is one of those where a grand jury should be told everything about the incident and what led up to it and let the grand jury decide what if any charges are warranted.
Grand jury has passed. He has already been arrested and charged. Matt needs to dismiss this. But hey , another murder case right. And since Matt knows that the public will not find Trey guilty ,he will change the venue. The crooked ass system will fry anyone and everyone they can. Innocent or not.
Sounds like self defense
Jury is the word! He will get off because his behavior is acceptable to society!!!! Just ask for JURY TRIAL
That's right ask for JURY TRIAL He will get off because his behavior is acceptable in more ways than one
Lee Harcum was as nice as they come. What a tragedy...
Come on 31 against 62 saw Trey in action give me a break he can run any other time why not this time is what I say is why were they working together if they did not get along & just another drug dealer off the streets
12:30, he has been arrested but not formally charged (indictment.)
Indictment comes after either a preliminary hearing in which a judge decides there is enough to proceed with an indictment or grand jury proceedings and they come back with a true bill meaning enough to indict. Every defendant charged with a serious crime has a right to one or the other of these proceedings.
As of this moment prelim has been scheduled for end of Aug but I'm betting it will go to grand jury before then.
101...lee was on his wy to get a gun out the truck. trey did the right thing.
No grand jury has NOT passed 12:30. And he has not been charged only arrested. Charges comes after a preliminary hearing (judge's decides) or a grand jury hears the evidence against the defendant and they decided if probable cause exists to charge with a crime or crimes.
This will go to the grand jury as preliminary hearings are very rare.
The grand jury can recommend to dismiss, agree with the charges or change/alter/amend them as we saw in the Freddie Gray case.
I would agree with you 1:01 except we don't know the story. If they had been fighting and the older man was known to carry a firearm in his vehicle and the nephew knew this and the uncle said he was getting that firearm where was he supposed to run to in a watermelon field.
Was there a building close by or something to hide behind or run into.
I wouldn't want to be in a watermelon field with an angry person who I thought may be going to get a gun. I would look to stop the threat knowing full well that I can't outrun a bullet. I would do everything I could to stop him from getting the gun.
If his Uncle was such an ass as u say then must run in the genes
People don't fry guilty r not they get off free w/ JURY TRIAL IN W.C.
12:30 it's the defense that moves for a change of venue and not the state. The state can argue against it, but that's unusual except in the Freddie Gray case where nothing so far the state has done has been usual and appropriate.
We are only hearing bits and pieces but so far George Zimmerman comes to mind and in order for the state to get any of the murder charges to stick, they are going to have to prove the defendant's state of mind. They are going to have to show that he was just, exclusively, only madder than hell, as opposed to mad but also concerned for his life. They won't be able to do that.
They would do themselves a favor by putting it all out to the grand jurors as this will go to the grand jury before the scheduled prelim on the 27th of Aug.
Let's see I was right on with Zimmerman and Casey Anthony so all would be best served by listening to me.
U are so bright I can't hardly see
So the cops just hold him w/o bond while he maybe innocent. Sure evidence is there but a judge still needs to say yes or no after a jury does the same. That man needs to be turned loose until this happens.
Sounds like murder to me
Were you there???? He could jump in vehicle any other time and drive like a maniac what was different this time
How do u figure
Sounds more like an attempted murder was stopped by the victim. Maryland is disgusting. No victims rights or self defense.
Just so some of you know, there is no reasoning with people from Mardela or Sharptown. They are small minded and nuts for the most part. Don't waste your time asking the why they think something. They have no idea,,, only what they heard from someone else.
What do people from Sharptown or Mardela have to do with it? Because it happened in their backyard they are now associated with it?! Sounds like to me you're the small minded one
You have got that right! Like I said they r so bright I can hardly see
Like I said he can run any other time he wants r jump in a vehicle & drive like a lunatic so what made this time so different
Well u must live there
First understand that there is a difference in living somewhere and actually being from there. My comment about them being small minded is pertaining to the ones FROM there. I'm sure you can tell the difference.
This young man was protecting himself from a raged uncle who was gonna do himsome harm..Its sad that it had to come to a death...they both should have just beat the Hell out of each other,,,They are blood relatives, I don't think Trey wanted to kill lee just stop him from harming him..I hope Blan Sr, and Blan Jr can get this kid out and save him from frying..Prayers for all.
What vehicle? Lee's? The tractor? Did Nike make a new car?
A tractor was there and Lee's vehicle.
Spot on! I moved here 10 years ago. Can't wait to get outta here! The most back woods inbred people if ever seen. Ignorant as hell.
This is hilarious!! Then original commenter must be from mardela or sharptown because it sure takes one to know one! What is there to reason about? Only the people there know what happened just because someone thinks he was justified or not doesn't make them difficult to reason with. What a joke of a person you are! I don't even live there but know people in both towns and find them very reasonable. Funny you had no example of how "unreasonable" these people are, none of these comments are unsigned...how do you know who wrote them or where they are from?
What exactly makes them small minded?
You must be FROM there too!! Only someone FROM there would know what it's like to be FROM there, I am sure you can tell the difference.
6:57
Your not from here. Exactly. It's always easy to deal with inferior people. And as a person who identified the garbage breaking in around Mardela on two separate occasions. I'm pretty sure I live here.
"Anonymous said...
U are so bright I can't hardly see
July 28, 2015 at 2:11 PM"
Bright is an understatement. You would be hard pressed to find someone more intelligent than I am. I am right 99.9 percent of the time and I have no problem letting others know it.
His behavior is acceptable for survival.
One conceded person right there. All mouth I bet.
Who cares where People are from. a family has been destroyed because of a hot headed farmer...Now a young mans life is in danger of our so called prison system....and he has to live with the fact that he had to kill his uncle to keep from being killed...Hopefully there was some field workers there that will tell the truth of what really happened...If not then no one knows now but Trey and God..Pray that if this young man was that sick to kill then pray that he can get help...and pray that if he is innocent , that he gets out and lives on with his life...For God sakes people just pray!
9:21, it's "conceited". So, you're wrong again...
9:28, Amen.
I don't even know this family at all - but why all the negative comments?! Didn't your parents ever teach you - If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all!! I will pray for this family!
Aweeee pity for the white guy who kills someone....there is always an excuse for them.
Not sure then why you brought an entirely different town into this discussion, this murder or your break-ins didn't happen in Sharptown, it obvious you are of inferior mind because you just lump everyone into one group. If we were talking about race you would be a racist.
AMEN!
Was a gun ever recovered from Lee's truck ???????
Word on street is that the uncle has been bullying this kid for years, the kid cracked after a butt whooping from the Uncle..You read the story he told the judge it was him or me, Lee was gonna hurt that boy,,,was there a gun found in Lees truck? Its sad that this family is torn down by this terrible event, And 3.02 Yes it was a white family but how many of You Blacks kill each other every day? So stop making it a race thing cause that's just not the case here. Some one died and someone is in jail...At least this was a working Family not the ghetto welfare collectors..Thank You very much!
Was there a gun found?
Which one is the victim??? Seems to me they r having a service for the victim
What was Trey supposed to do after his uncle hit him over the head with a watermelon? Was he supposed to stand there and pick out a watermelon of equal size? Find a bigger watermelon? Those tractor links are heavy hard steel, from the distance thrown he probably had a 1 in 200 chance of hitting his uncle in the head with that chunk of steel. Never get a 1st or 2nd degree murder charge, never. If he can throw that accurately that he was aiming for the head, a major league team would have him on a pitchers mound! What was really disgusting was the picture Gregg Bassett posted on the front page of his rag. That is how a jury pool can be tainted, Gregg might think he is a journalist, only if his trash paper is the Tattler or National Inquirer. Think about that blood on your hands Gregg! Cast another stone?
8:05-I can recall you being wrong on more than one occasion,namely twice when you admittedly misidentified perps,after which you stated "well they all look alike anyway".Also a time or 2 when you thought you had been shortchanged and you HAD NOT,but you never apologized to the cashier for YOUR mistake.You are no more perfect than the rest of us.
@ 3:02 am White people are not generally violent unless their life is on the line that's why there's sympathy unlike your folks why of life.
This is a service for the victim. He's innocent. Only Maryland's dumb ass laws have that boy in jail.Lee was a bully. Quick to hide behind that gun. And he has shot at people before.
6:20
It happened in Sharptowns fire district. And yes that area is considered Sharptown.
The workers have told the truth. It's now I was able to give the 100% scoop. My friend pulled Lee of Trey twice.
Wow spelling tests..... How can you pass with lil spike at your heels? Every comment you make has your yippy mut with an amen.
Like the brothers who kill? Their parents screaming he's innocent lmao. Knowing damn well the thug brings home money from dope deals. Know what they are. Can't usually say the same for white guys. FYI this isn't a NAACP blog.
Yes the gun was there.
Agreed. Those pins are heavy. Like throwing a shot put .
He can spell! Lmao. 8:05 is pathetic. Had to puff on his own stick to swell up.
Anonymous said...
Spot on! I moved here 10 years ago. Can't wait to get outta here! The most back woods inbred people if ever seen. Ignorant as hell.
July 28, 2015 at 6:03 PM
David Insley comes to mind
Anonymous said...
9:21, it's "conceited". So, you're wrong again...
July 28, 2015 at 11:04 PM
You beat me to it.
The Know it All paper by that Bassett guy said that Lois was Blan Sr.'s wife?? I believe they are not married. Can someone verify that? I know them through the Republican Club and just thought they were friends or courting?
Anonymous said...
Word on street is that the uncle has been bullying this kid for years, the kid cracked after a butt whooping from the Uncle..You read the story he told the judge it was him or me, Lee was gonna hurt that boy,,,was there a gun found in Lees truck? Its sad that this family is torn down by this terrible event, And 3.02 Yes it was a white family but how many of You Blacks kill each other every day? So stop making it a race thing cause that's just not the case here. Some one died and someone is in jail...At least this was a working Family not the ghetto welfare collectors..Thank You very much!
July 29, 2015 at 5:30 PM
If the uncle had been bullying for years why wasn't this handled by Blan Jr. or Blan Sr. Damn if I would let any family member bully a child of mine. Don't say they didn't know about it because obviously someone did!!
Maybe the boy kept it to himself most times. Or they knew Lee was off his chain from a lifetime with him and didn't want the troubles.
Why do people keep calling him a "boy" or a "kid? He is 31 years old. He is a growb man...
This not how CJS works in MD. He is formally charged and arraigned on capital charges. Next he will have a preliminary hearing where prosecutor and defense their arguments to the court. Base on the evidence the Judge will decide whether to dismiss or proceed. The case will then be transfer to a higher court (Circuit) where plea bargain, judge sentencing are jury trial are requested and the out of a case is determined. Go on Maryland Court System where you can research MD court system.
Go read your history and psychology books, everyone has the propensity to be violent when face with a life or death situation. When faced with such situation a person fight, flee, faint or freeze. Stop making everything a race issue. Because the reality of situation according to most projections and predictions America's racial make is changing .
If I was Trey's attorney I'd be looking for a partner to sue Salisbury Independent.
TREY is not guilty of murder only of protecting himself of a gun toting BULLY Uncle.Lee was always on someones case..and he had it in for TREY.. That's his brothers son , he should not have hit him with a melon or laid his hand upon him.If you are beat , hit and bullied your gonna soon snap and fight back..Free this young man and let his life go on...its bad enough that he has to live his life knowing that he took a family members life..
Having known the Harcum family for over 30 years, I have some pure facts to offer...few of which I have seen in these comments:
Louise and Blan Harcum were good parents to their children and well-respected in MANY circles both at home and in Salisbury.
Louise has been deceased for many years, and Blan Sr.has been seeing a lovely lady from Salisbury,close to the family, until his recent death.
Trey Harcum was the victim of bullying from his Uncle Lee for years.
Bullying takes many forms, and often is done without family present.
Family dynamics often operate on a "just keep the peace" basis, which means that no one wanted to confront Lee....trouble!
The family has now lost its patriarch, a son and a grandson to jail.
Tragedy all around. A productive farm now hangs in the balance.
God help them all.
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